Looking back, looking forward

A few years ago, I started a project to simplify my life. I was living in Tokyo, working more hours than a person should, making more money than a person needs, and consuming more than the planet can handle.

It was around that time that I started recording my thoughts, stories, photography, and adventures on this website. At first, I was drawn to the idea as an alternative to social media, which I was also leaving behind in an effort to simplify. Over time, as I started confronting all of the pain and unrest I was hiding with addictions to work, buying, and likes, I hoped the honesty in these pages might reach someone with similar experiences.

In March, when the storm clouds rolled in, we all retreated to our germ pods and made desperate attempts to navigate the frightening twilight of a new decade. I started writing more offline, invested in projects like beekeeping and bike touring, and continued to narrow my focus on the truly essential.

The year wasn’t without its adventures and triumphs. I traveled to Europe, which was lovely. I discovered incredible new bike circuits all around Oregon. I made new friends and learned such things from them.

I’ve also been writing, although not as much in this format. Through letters and storytelling, my writing has been a powerful tool for deepening relationships with faraway friends. I’m collecting new stories on so many pages, to be shared soon.

As for what’s next. I have been planning to move some of my long-form writing to a periodical or newsletter format. Stay tuned for more on this. I’m also gearing up for a substantial new life chapter to begin soon, and I want to use this website for more regular updates and smaller reflections. The objective of this vehicle remains the same—if there’s anyone, anywhere out there trying to discover what’s essential in life and explore how to live meaningfully, I hope these words will connect to you across cyberspace.

Before those plans take shape, I still have some time in my comfortable room with its gentle familiarities. I have a slumbering garden to tend, preparations to make for spring. I have a bicycle that’s begging for more adventures, and old gear in the panniers whispering secrets only broken things know.

Now for a few remainders

This year, I managed to escape to the pages of some wonderful books. Here are a few I found particularly rewarding:

• Black Lamb and Grey Falcon – Rebecca West
• Blue Ticket – Sophie Mackintosh
• The Glass Hotel – Emily St. John Mandel
• Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi
• On The Clock – Emily Guendelsberger
• The Power – Naomi Alderman
• Recursion – Blake Crouch

After a dreamlike visit to Prague, I also started learning Czech. This opened me to the world of Karel Zeman and his incredible films. One you might enjoy, dear reader, is Invention for Destruction.