Taking Down the Walls

This morning

I just had a great idea this morning, in a bathroom.

I have been searching for what I love to do, and I began seeing the glimps of what to become of such pondering.

It started with the thought of living in Lyon, France with my sweetheart.

If I were to be living in Lyon in 3 months, how would I plan the coming 3 months?

If I were to be living in Lyon in 3 months, how would I plan the coming month?

The coming week? Today?

Recently I read “sennnouryoku” by Mr. Tomabechi. In the book, he talks about the concept of time. In that, he explains that the past does not create the future, but vice versa.

At the first reading, I had no clue what he was talking about.

Then, I began pondering.

By planning to live in Lyon in 3 months, my mind started to imagine my day in Lyon.

I began thinking of how to accomplish that lifestyle. What will I be doing in 2 months from now? A month from now? A week from now? And ultimately today?

Then, an interesting idea hit upon me.

Well, if I can think like this about living in Lyon, I can apply this practice to virtually anything.

How does my life look like in 3 months from now?

Can I clearly picture it?

Then, what should I be doing now to get there?

Am I going far away from my “ideal life”?

“Be realistic!”

“I am responsible for my job.”

These inner voices prevent me from pursuing my “ideal life”?

That’s the question I am supposed to be thinking about, yet I realized that I am not clear about what “my ideal life” looks like.

I am going to mindmap the “ideal life” for me in a day or two by using the recently found free online tool called Mindomo.

As the recent Toastmaster’s world champion said, “The answer has always been inside….”

Yes, indeed.  I have been too busy to stop and think about what I want because of the incessant requests and interruptions from others.

Why am I here for?

Well, the question itself seems like “I am here for others,” but my inner voice says, “No, no.  You are supposed to be enjoying your life, and your life is not JUST for the others.”

I am not going to sacrifice my life for the sake of others.

It’s time to ask myself, “is the answer inside?”

Where did they go?

Tonight, I went to the Yakitori place I usually go with my mentor.

Then, I noticed that the store people were different.

I was already missing the previous store people, while understanding it might have been an inescapble situation for the owner to replace those people.

Yet, I had to hate the current economic system for abandoning those two lovely people from the job of working at the Izakaya/Yakitori place.

He died at the age of 26

On January 13, Sunday, 2008

I met a great man who specializes in SEITAISHI, physical therapist(?).  He actually owns the practice.

Well, my piano teacher invited me to a seminar on “choice.”  The seminar was based on NLP, and other coaching techniques and by attending the seminar, my goals got clarified and it enpowered me a great deal.

During the seminar, a very motivated, energetic man was present with his parents.  His name was Mr. Watanabe.  He was one of the people I wanted to meet again in the future to discuss the life directions we are traveling.

About a month later, at the beginning of a piano lesson, my piano teacher said quietly.

“I have to let you know about one thing.  Do you remember Mr. Watanabe?”

“Yes, that energetic guy!”

“Yes, that energetic guy…   He has passed away.”

“WWWWHAT!”

“He passed away.”

“You are kidding.  He is young.”

“Yes, he is only 26 years old.”

“How could he die? That’s unbelievable. That’s unthinkable.  You are joking. I cannot think / feel anything.  I just don’t believe you.”

That was my reaction when I heard of his death.

He is only 26 years old and looked very healthy.

I don’t know (nor my piano teacher) why he died.  It could have been overwork. Karoshi.

After hearing that news, my view toward life and work and so-called life-work balance really shifted and changed.

Why are we living?  What’s the purpose of life?

The same, simple question kept lingering between my ears.

Now, I am getting the message:

1) Do enjoyable things NOW.

2) I need to rush to accomplish what I promised to myself, to my community.

3) In order to accomplish my goals, I want to work hard.

This is one of the reasons why I decided to set up this blog and started writing.

This time, it is real.  I feel it and I am excited.

For Mr. Watanabe, I must do this.

Beginning…

Here comes the beginning of my blog.

I have started blogging about 2 years ago…none of them last more than 3 months.

Yet, those were the past, and I am making the future.

In this blog, (under my own domain name), I will leave the traces of the journey I am about to make.

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