Making life better
7 ways to find happiness the Thai way
When Prima’s features director, Karen Swayne, visited Thailand 30 years ago, she didn’t realise how it would change her life…
Over the past 15 years, I’ve written and commissioned hundreds of stories for Prima. But there’s one story I’ve been longing to tell – my own.
It all started when I gave up my job in London aged 30 and went travelling. I flew to India with a friend, and after an exhausting six months of exploring, I arrived in Thailand ready for a bit of R&R. I fell in love with the country straight away, and the warmth of the sun was matched by that of its people, but what I hadn’t countered for was actually falling in love. On a white sand beach on the (then) unspoiled island of Koh Pha Ngan, I met Sit Sinotok, who was running a restaurant. Despite language and cultural barriers, we found a common bond and ended up living together in a hut he built on the beach. Today Sit is my husband of 30 years and we have a son, Siam, 29, and our one-time beach hut is now a home in Brighton. Our life together has not only bought me so much happiness but one where I move between East and West, visiting Sit’s home country as much as we can. And one of the most important things I’ve learned from my time spent with Thai family and friends is how it’s the little things that add up to a joyful life. Thai people have a word for it: sanuk. Pronounced san-ook, loosely translated it means ‘fun’.
It’s about injecting joy into the everyday to achieve a more optimistic way of living.
I was so inspired by this concept that I’ve now written a book, The Little Book Of Sanuk, showing how we can all be happier by making the most of every moment. To me, sanuk appeals because it has joy at its heart. This fun-loving way of life is why Thailand is often called The Land of Smiles.
And the good news is you can inject sanuk into your life, no trip to Thailand required!
PRIORITISE FUN
Thai people never pass up an opportunity to enjoy themselves. So sanuk is a key factor in their decision-making: some pleasure must be combined with whatever they do. And when life is lacking sanuk, they plan it.
Think it’s impossible to plan for fun? Cast your mind back to when you last had the best time. Think about who you were with and make an effort to meet up with them. Consider what you were doing and schedule that activity.
And there’s science behind sanuk, too; studies show that when we do pleasurable activities, it releases the feelgood hormone dopamine, which boosts positivity and can counteract feelings of stress. Doing fun stuff also provides a source of something called eustress – a type of positive
