The Chronicle

Relationships are a large part of what fulfills us. That is common enough knowledge. However, we traditionally think of relationships in terms of our friends, family and lovers, all of which are material. Another interesting, less explored form of relationships are those that lack the human component. Everything we interact with is a kind of relationship. But due to these relationships expressing themselves immaterially and less obviously reciprocally, it is easy to not view them as one and the same. There is value in overcoming this short-sightedness. Because although immaterial in nature these relationships compose our non-social world, which we are bound to spend a great deal of time experiencing. And to enjoy them nearly as we might a friend, can bring us a great deal of happiness and more well-rounded life.

Posting recently my reflections concerning reaching middle-age-ish and not having staked out for myself a traditional path, I got a lot of great responses. There seemed a thread which ran its way through most answers. That to live for you, your desires, your interests, selfish as it may be, causes the least suffering and best result. An interesting idea to say the least. But how to do this in such a way that is not entirely self-serving is an equally important question. Or, the conclusion we must make again, that to be self-serving is the path best taken. Rarely in life do I think absolutes hold much water and I am no guru but I did enjoy internalizing these ideas for a while and seeing what came out.

What does it feel like to thrown on a sword? Well that depends on whose done the throwing. Was it you, or did someone else land you there? Although ultimately each is painful, our willingness to see that pain in a positive light unquestionably favors that we do the throwing ourselves. This exhausting metaphor for working long hours is driving at the point that work is felt differently when we feel in control. It's a concept I am applying while working harder than I ever have, a least in an office like job. Lo and behold working hard reduces stress forges better relationships and a whole host of other side effects. Naturally it's difficult but difficulty, strangely is not usually what makes life difficult. On this episode of the podcast we go in deep on a new work environment as well as touch on gaijin elitism. Something I argue that is simply the manifesting of an all to ubiquitous trait of elitism in general.

You know that old expression - anger leads to hate, hate leads to you making a fool of yourself. Well much as that is very true It is important that we acknowledge the feeling of anger is often justified, more the issue is how we apply it. Anger usually seeks justice and fairness, it just sucks at getting these things done in a way that doesn't totally alienate those it inflicts itself upon. If you are tasked with leading a group of people, any age it doesn't matter. Likelihood is that at some point they will become unruly, or more elegantly put, a huge pain in the ass. That's gonna make you mad and want to correct them, but what is the most effective way of doing so? Some controlled degree of anger, a clinical application of its pressure in just the right amount? Or is there some other way to reach the goal you so desire. I have a good long talk about this and my personal approach in this weeks podcast.

A lot of big changes will arrive shortly come the beginning of March. First on the list will be slowly moving to a new apartment. No small feat in Japan considering the many costs associated with doing such an act. Moreover a challenge as well due to all the turning off an on of various services, water, gas and so on. But it is something I am truly excited for. It has given me the opportunity to get on the phone and speak Japanese. It has made me as well once again appreciate the wonderful people around me who have helped in making the move. Along the way I've thought a great deal about humility and acting more without ego as well as focusing your mind during stressful situations. All in all, when a boring life is what I truly dread, I couldn't be happier.

Been listening to a lot of stoic thoughts recently and within my recent past have been quite impacted by the book 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius. Doing so provided allowed me to put many experiences I have had in Japan into a useful context. But that's not all. Arnold Swarschanager, I noticed, has had some great things to say about the idea of the self-made man. To the point, essentially that no one, not even he himself, is one. I thought that was a useful idea when it comes to establishing your independence in a foreign country. Certainly we should aspire to not overly rely on others but equally true we should allow ourselves a communities contributions to our own well being, so long as we contribute positively to that community. The second half of the podcast will, as usual, be given over to answering subscriber emails.

I've not uploaded anything new since the 26th of December. That is unusual for me even given that that time was basically a holiday. Returning now as I am to creative endeavors I want to keep you, who listen and support me, informed of what has been going on in my life. The truth, as it is, to my subjective reality, I will speak to. And in all honesty as things have turned out, a quite positive twist has revealed itself as we pass by this bend in the road of my life. One that should prove interesting and quite a goldmine for further reflection, entertainment, and many potential more failures and successes. As I am so fond of saying-my life is anything but boring. And that's how I like it.

What's life without kicking back once in a while and going out drinking. Incredibly sober healthy and productive but let's focus too much on that detail. Recently I wrapped up around five weeks of focused labor and wanted a chance to blow off some steam so I headed in to Tokyo for a date. The date got cancelled but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from having a social night out so once arrived and after imbibing a few whiskies I set out to find my fortune in downtown Tokyo and was not disappointed. The night was eventfully hilarious filled with many first time experiences and much more. Following this drunken tirade the second half of the podcast is given over to the much more grounded discussion harvested from the emails I have received over the last couple weeks. We talk about stage fright and how to overcome it in the classroom as well as touch on what it takes to be an effective leader in the classroom as well.

Japan's cultural pressures are like none other in the world given it's much different value system. This system has no doubt allowed the country to survive, but survival does not always equate to happiness. Joined by my guest and colleague Dean we discuss this topic and touch on a few very unique challenges that natives of the culture must face and to a lesser degree expats. Not ever to go too dark we follow it up with the bizarre incarnation which is Christmas in Japan. A holiday which owes most of its traditions here to a successful ad campaign.

Our progress as a species moves forward in nearly every quantifiable way from poverty to education, but this does not mean that our success or failure overall has ever ceased its balancing act on a razor's edge. Where race is concerned certainly we've moved ahead as well but to think we've found some perfect understanding of each other would be naive. Japan as an ancient mono-culture offers a fascinating look into this very difficult topic and serves as the starting point for this week's podcast. To not dive to deep the second portion is given over to discussing how to find housing in Japan as well as significant time spent answering emails. What, for example, is the advice you'd give a family coming to live in Japan and many other questions.