How do you reset yourself? What is the device you use? I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I am not a young man and I am losing friends, my writing is in the creative doldrums, I have been taking care of far too many people as of late, and I am afraid I’ve allowed myself to get into serious sleep debt. How shall I reset myself?
Care of the Soul
My last corporate job ended in 2009. It was not a joyous parting of the ways. Water under the bridge and all that. Nevertheless, leaving enabled me to go from 10% freelancing to 100%
However, the last corporate job did afford me the luxury of travel, especially to Japan. I have talked about this in a previous blog. I am not as yet so addle-brained that I have forgotten my reflections on that country. One aspect of Japan that I loved, and did not adequately express, was its ability to reset my soul and my spirit. I have been blessed to have traveled rather extensively but it is only Japan that centers me.
I am sorry Japan is having such a tough battle with COVID-19 and selfishly, having to deal with the on-again, off-again Olympic games. I say ‘selfishly,’ because the thought of Japan being overrun with fat American tourists is much more than I can imagine or tolerate.
With no COVID and no tourists, I would probably be on a plane to Tokyo right this moment. Instead, I reset myself in the gym most mornings, fasting a day a week (just to feel better, nothing religious attached), gardenpng and reading a book most everyone hates and I like. Nothing though, takes the place of walking the streets of Tokyo, Kyoto and such.
There is no reason for this attraction to a country where I can barely speak the language or read it; there is no explanation I can offer. Interestingly, I cannot write there but I do love to sketch architectural elements, garden “ideas,” designs and such. I turn off my brain and eat, socialize and just be in most any quiet corner.
I could use Japan right now, and I hope it uses me in its own way.
