The Thoughts We Rarely Admit
Observations from two decades of Japan life, from the nuances of teaching and farming to the comfort of a small home and everyday routines.
After a major life change, the big picture is often too overwhelming to look at. Here is how finding just one simple daily anchor can keep you steady when everything else feels chaotic.
Heartbreak changes us, especially when we’re broken by loving someone who needed to leave. If you’re dealing with your own pain and wondering if you’ll survive it, just remember: you aren’t weak, and it’s okay to be broken.
My student of 20 years, my boss’s father, my former roommates – the list is growing. As I prepare to move back to the UK, I’m realizing there’s less future than there used to be. But seeing other people’s chapters close is a blunt reminder not to waste what’s left of mine.
In feudal Japan, a samurai without a master became a ronin. If you feel lost after a major life change, this ancient mindset can help you rebuild.
You show up for work and smile at the right times. But inside, your mind is racing. This is the dangerous gap between looking fine and actually being fine.
I have lived out of convenience stores for 20 years. I have less, but I owe nothing. This is a look at the quiet dignity of living tight, without the crushing weight of modern debt.
Four days off over New Year taught me something that years of working never did. Regulating your schedule might matter more to your happiness than your salary or success.
I warned a stranger about his untied shoelaces outside a 7-Eleven today. That tiny interaction lifted my mood more than I expected on a freezing winter morning.
I am weighing up a return to the UK to care for my father. But a clash over a motorcycle reminded me of the difference between going home and going backwards.
