12/04/2026
“This is my bonus life.”
After a cancer diagnosis, life can feel different. Priorities shift. How you want to live may change. And yet—how quickly do we slip back into autopilot?
Before we know it, we’re already well into the year. The days are full, but the weeks blur together. Even with the best intentions, we miss what’s right in front of us—because we’re not always fully in it.
There is a Japanese concept: 一期一会(ichigo ichie)“One time, one meeting.”
Not in a heavy, “this might be the last time” kind of way—but as a reminder that this moment is unique and unrepeatable.
There’s growing evidence that being present has measurable effects on our health:
Mindfulness practices can lower cortisol
They may support immune function, including NK cell activity
And are associated with better sleep, emotional regulation, and quality of life
(Black & Slavich, 2016; Carlson et al., 2013)
At the same time, autopilot today is by design. Our phones and feeds keep us scrolling—often keeping stress levels elevated, especially with constant news exposure.
Here are 3 simple ways to practice ichigo ichie in your bonus life:
1. Protect your attention
Create small boundaries with your phone.
Try a simple 30/30 rule:
→ No phone for 30 minutes after waking
→ No phone for 30 minutes before sleep
Charge your phone in another room if you can.
If you catch yourself scrolling, decide how long you want to stay and set a timer.
No judgment—just awareness.
2. Interrupt the autopilot
Change one routine on purpose.
Take a different route. Sit in a different place. Speak to someone new.
Slow one thing down.
Your first sip of coffee. Your first bite of a meal.
Name what’s here.
Pause and notice: 4 things you see, 3 you hear, 2 you feel, 1 you smell.
Awareness doesn’t require more time—just a way to come back to the present.
3. Choose one moment to fully keep
A conversation. A meal. A walk.
Be there for it—without rushing or multitasking.
This isn’t about doing more or doing it perfectly. It’s about waking up to the life you’re already living.