JapanLife - OldDogZeroTricks

When Your Mission Ends: Finding Purpose After Loss (人生の目的)

Updated on January 25, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor of a lone ronin walking along a Japanese coastline path, carrying a simple pack and searching for a new mission.

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.

Are You Mentally Healthy or Just Good at Coping?

Updated on December 23, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor of middle-aged man in his late 50s with grey hair, standing inside his front hallway dressed in casual work clothes and about to leave for the day, one hand resting on the doorknob. Showing signs of high functioning depression with eyes cast down, he is composing himself before stepping outside.

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.

The Quiet Panic of Not Having Enough Money

Updated on January 20, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor of hands counting cash, and worrying about not having enough money, representing financial stress vs anxiety.

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.

When Did Work Get Put on a Pedestal? (And What Happens When You Take It Down)

Updated on January 12, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

A watercolor illustration set in a Japanese tatami room, showing an antique balance scale. A steaming coffee cup and cherry blossom branch weigh down one side, tipping the scale lower than a leather briefcase and heavy planner on the other side, symbolizing the value of rest over work obligations.

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.

Be Kind to Others (Be Kind to Yourself)

Updated on January 10, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor of middle-aged British and Japanese guys making small talk by the coffee machine inside 7-Eleven.

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.

Everyone Has a Niken

Updated on January 1, 2026by OldDogZeroTricks

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.

We Got Divorced But Kept Living Together: What That Taught Me About Love

Updated on December 6, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

A fist bump in the rain. Twenty years reduced to that simple gesture.

We got divorced, signed the papers, then went home and kept living together for years. Here is what staying in the same house taught me about letting go.

The Holidays When You’re Not Part of a Traditional Family

Updated on December 23, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

Watercolor illustration of an empty cozy cafe with Christmas tree and solitary seating during the holiday season

For 20 years, I have worked on Christmas Day. I send a card, make a call, and treat it like any other Tuesday. This is a defense of the quiet holiday.

It’s Important To Get Out Of Your Own Head

Updated on December 23, 2025by OldDogZeroTricks

We spend so much time rushing that our thoughts get trapped in a loop. See why a simple change of scenery is often the only way to break the spell.