A Journey through My Diverse Perspectives

"People aren't interesting unless they have something a little careless. Likewise, in manufacturing, design is what compensates for and enhances the flaws and shortcomings of products to the point of charm and beauty." This is a quote from a famous Japanese founder of an automobile company. In other words, this means finding ways to transform our flaws and shortcomings into unique characteristics that make them more appealing by altering our perspective. Once we succeed in doing so, we gain a significant advantage in the form of a distinctive trait.

Throughout its extensive history, Japan had remained largely isolated from interactions with other countries, except for select elite exchanges, until the mid-18th century, primarily due to its geographic isolation surrounded by the ocean. During this period, Japan's unique values and culture, which are still evident today, were nurtured, and a unified national character was formed. The Japanese language and culture are often described as "high context," implying that communication relies heavily on unspoken backgrounds and contexts. This influence has contributed to the general perception that Japan may not excel in diplomacy with foreign countries. Despite many cultural differences, most Japanese tend to assume that foreigners think and make decisions in the same way as Japanese people, largely due to limited historical exposure to foreign cultures. To enhance diplomatic capabilities, it is crucial to prioritize the improvement of both the quality and quantity of inform

For retirees, there are numerous invaluable lessons gleaned from a lifetime of experience, yet their actual number remains rather limited. If we attempt to succinctly capture these life lessons as concrete personal evidence, we'd discover that they aren't as numerous as one might think. To take an extreme perspective, it's conceivable that we could distill the entire essence of life lessons into a single sentence for the benefit of future generations. In this sense, it can be argued that the crux of the matter lies in the fact that our actions may carry more significance than the words we leave behind. While the documentation of individual lessons is undoubtedly important, a single comprehensive book could suffice to preserve their fundamental values. Furthermore, within a span of two to three years, it might be adequate to revisit and distill these lessons into a single book, serving as a valuable resource for all.

There are several times in our lives when we are faced with considerably chaotic and tough situations, which we have either unconsciously brought upon ourselves or encountered suddenly through fate. Such chaotic situations can offer great opportunities for us to realize and learn something valuable or necessary in life. When we successfully overcome these challenges, our confidence in ourselves grows as individuals. The following words have helped me overcome past chaos: "Trials are only given to those who can overcome them." "Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." "Although we cannot change our fates, we can change our destinies depending on our efforts."

Whether it's active or passive actions, due to the influx of constantly updated and stimulating information through various media, we instinctively tend to spend too much of our daily time paying attention to the world outside ourselves, which strongly influences our thoughts and actions. This trend in modern society may have gone too far, causing an imbalance in our minds and bodies. Therefore, it would be better to consciously allocate more of our time to focus our attention on our internal selves, engage in a dialogue with our inner voice, nurture our spirits, and take care of our bodies in order to maintain a healthy mind and body.

When receiving advice from someone or giving advice to someone, having a pre-existing or concurrently developing relationship of trust can significantly enhance the effectiveness of that advice. When someone we deeply admire and trust offers advice, whether directly or indirectly, we tend to listen attentively and strive to comprehend its full meaning. However, in situations where the relationship is strained, even if the advice is accurate and valuable, we may not be inclined to give it proper consideration and could simply dismiss it. Thus, the impact of advice can be substantially bolstered by the interpersonal dynamics between the giver and recipient. The same principle applies when offering advice.  

In human history, every story has two sides, the positive and the negative. For example, the invention of the printing press greatly facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and expertise, and the invention of the motor vehicle dramatically transformed human mobility. However, the former also led to a decline in human memory function, and the latter contributed to a sedentary lifestyle and physical fitness issues. Similarly, the Internet and AI provide us with a wealth of information that we often rely on, but it can also diminish our ability to rely on our own insights and intuition, which our ancestors cultivated through their interactions with nature over the course of human history. Even today, by simply taking a walk and engaging in a conscious dialogue with trees and plants, we can restore our innate insight and intuition. This, in turn, can enhance our imaginative abilities and provide emotional healing. It may be hard to believe, but why not give it a try?