It’s not a mystery but to stay grounded and happy, each of us needs to take care of our mental, physical and emotional well-being. For me, at a minimum, it is essential that I spend time painting, swimming, writing, hiking and/or biking. When I practice these activities, like meditating, the practice builds up positive internal energy much like a self-generating turbine. Galvanized by this strength, I am better able to accept and deal with the world’s drama and feel happier in general. I think we all have simple triggers, which help us to reboot. What are the behaviors that keep you happy and healthy?

For over 40 years, at much expense and hardship, I have scoured the earth looking for the ideal place to practice healing activities. I’ve painted on mountaintops, swam with manta rays, written aboard trains crisscrossing India, hiked the Himalayas and biked around an extinct volcano (edit in photos of these). But although this searching can be fulfilling, it is not available to everyone and to those who have the luxury, it drains resources and increases pollution. The simple solution is to seek sanctuaries in our own backyard where we can easily go to reboot. It’s as simple as finding a corner where you feel inspired and close to nature.

Once on the wall of Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque I spotted what looked like a huge ornate clock. Asking about its purpose, I learned that it indicates the five periods of a 24-hour day during which every devote Muslims should pray for a period of 5 to 12 minutes. Doing the math, that means praying for between 25 and 60 minutes a day, which seems just plain smart. I wish I had the discipline to pause five times a day to remember what is important. But short of this, if I can spend a handful of minutes doing one or more of the activities that can heal me, I think that the world will be a better place. How about you?