Different from the normal practice, there were five empty vases in the alcove, four lined up on the floor, and one hanging on the pillar on the left side. There was no insence container in the alcove. Five of us all sat in a circle, and each picked a small rectangular wooden chip. On the …
In addition to planning how to be, there is another thing I do when I write my journal every morning: I count how many days left for me. How many days left from when? The day I die. I arbiturarily chose that day to be my 100th birthday, because I want to live well until …
Can you guess what this plant is? Yes, cabbage. What a big deal. To me, however, this cabbage was a surprise. Having grown up in a city, I always bought vegetables from a shop. I did see tomatoes and cucumbers growing in my grand parents’ farm, but I also saw the produce being laid out …
Whenever I see news,videos, and SNS and learn what is going on in Ukraine, I feel utterly helpless. It’s beyond my comprehension why such atrocities are happeninig. Nevertheless, I will start with what I can do today. By creating an ikebana arrangement with sun flowers, I express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people. I believe …
From the summer of 1978, I spent the whole high school senior year in the US as an exchange student. My host family welcomed me as one of their own members. I’m evermore grateful for their generosity. Especially my host mother – for what ignited in me. My host mother said, “Barbara (one of my …
Last year I started implementing Cal Newport’s Time-Block Planner method. Every morning I open my favorite notebook, draw two vertical lines to create three columns, fill the first column from 6am to 11pm, and fill the second with what I plan to do: write, read, have lunch with a friend, trade options, go for an …