Going back to Japan to see my elderly parents and reconnect with my home country, It struck me that nothing is permanent; parents who were once young and capable are now old. My mum has developed dementia—I’ve come to terms with the fact that we all at some point, have to say goodbye to this world.
I want to make each day meaningful, rather than repeating the same patterns over and over.
I, probably like many others, fret over things—little things that don’t really matter at the end of the day—wasting so much time that could be spent on something better.
Visiting Tokyo was inspiring. Japan’s capital city, which I had only visited a few times when I was younger, is constantly changing and evolving. It’s part of Japanese culture to understand that nothing is permanent—everything changes—and that idea resonates with me. Having lived in a western country for a long time and returning to the East, I can now see the differences between the two sets of values more clearly. Of course, as humans, we share many common traits, so in some ways, we are all the same. But in other ways, we are fascinatingly different. Visiting Tokyo was so much fun, and it made me appreciate being born in Japan.
Reuniting with my parents and returning to my home country also made me notice an interesting parallel between the two. I’ve realised how many traits I’ve inherited from my parents, character-wise. At the same time, I can now observe them more objectively, with a sense of detachment. After living in Scotland for so long has also made the differences between the two cultures much clearer. I’m able to see both perspectives, which is probably the most valuable thing I’ve gained since moving to Scotland. And I love the both places equally.
