From cabin dwellers to chateau owners, it’s a zest for life – even the small things – that makes us flourish
When my partner, Zan, and I drove our van out of the parking lot in Buenos Aires in 2006 – and faced southwards towards Patagonia – we had rules for the trip ahead: no computer, no phone, no social media, no camera, no compass, no internet. These were the rules. But, more importantly, no plans. Instead, we hauled dozens of books on philosophy, like The Art of Happiness by Epicurus and Conversations of Socrates, and some odd sprinklings of sociology and psychology texts. The question as to how to live was once the focus of thought foremost in the minds of ancient philosophers. What could we learn from them?
For almost two decades I’ve been travelling the world searching for an answer to the question: what makes for a flourishing life? Is it riches, success, fame, a shiny sports car, a mansion with a pool, or is it something more elusive, much like hidden treasure on a map?
