On my walk yesterday I found myself standing at a stoplight next to a Japanese woman I couldn’t help but notice was beautiful, so I thought I had been presented with a perfect opportunity to try out my Japanese. I presented my best “Ohayou Gozaimasu” causing a confused look followed by a smile.
Her name was Seiko and she just happened to speak English. Said she had lived in LA and SF. Said she was here in Kyoto on business. She asked what brought me to Kyoto and I told her about selling my house and closing my business. She said “Oh, you must be big success guy.” I swear I could hear Peter Cetera’s “Glory of Love” playing in the background. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I wasn’t. She said she had just finished the week of work and was going to see some temples and shrines over the weekend.
Very long pause.
Then the light changed and she went right and I went straight. A missed opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture, but that type of "learning" is not why I came here.
Nonetheless, I will hang on to the beautiful moment.
I’m sure I easily walked 10 miles today after that.
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
Zen and Ink Journals represents hundreds of hours of writing over the past decade, sometimes from a train in remote China or a coffee shop in Kyoto, a hammock in Costa Rica or a simple cabin on a mountain in Boquete, Panama.
Zen and Ink Journals is a simple offering of words in the hope of inspiring others to a simpler, more mindful way of life in these chaotic times. I invite you join me each month on the journey for a glimpse of the larger world, reflections on living more simply and quietly amidst the chaos of our modern world.
Please consider foregoing a cup of coffee each month and becoming a monthly subscriber.
If you would like to support Zen and Ink as a Founding Member or prefer a one-time Donation you may select the Founding Member option and enter any amount you choose. Please know your gift carries a ripple effect in the world and helps sustain the journey.
For more information and ways to connect with me, visit my website at Zen and Ink
Zen and Ink was born over a decade ago out of my own personal journey to find peace and tranquility amidst the ever-increasing chaos of our modern world. In the last ten years, the pace of our modern world has only accelerated and we have moved further out of sync with nature and the rhythm of our souls. Zen and Ink offers a quiet space for anyone along their journey seeking more balance and Zen in their daily lives.
Zen and Ink provides an oasis for those who are drawn to a slower and simpler way of life; to provide a portal for awakening, tools and resources that many will find useful in their own quest to find the Zen which is already there and always within and around each of us.