|
As the year draws to a close, I’ve been thinking about the unexpected ways life offers us mirrors, through art, through people, and even through nature. Recently, I watched Rental Family, a film that quietly asks what it means to belong. Seeing Brendan Fraser navigate a world where relationships can be rented made me pause. It’s a story about loneliness, but also about the roles we play and the connections we crave, even when they come with boundaries. It reminded me that sometimes the hardest truths are the ones we glimpse in silence. I also wrote about a very different setting, mentoring Japanese startups eager to make their mark in Silicon Valley. Their energy was contagious. These conversations weren’t just about HR strategies; they were about dreams, resilience, and the courage to leap across oceans. I left feeling that mentorship is never one-directional. It’s a dialogue, a shared journey where both sides learn and grow. And then, thinking back to when I lived in Ishikawa, winter offered its own lesson. I remember standing in Kenrokuen Garden admiring the delicate ropes of yukitsuri, feeling the quiet magic of preparation and patience. Snow resting on pine branches, paths softened by frost, it was beauty born from care. In that stillness, I realized how much nature teaches us about balance and grace, even in the coldest seasons. Three moments, three mirrors. Each asking in its own way: what do we see when we look closely? This week, I’m all about Bonenkai, those year-end gatherings in Japan where friends, colleagues, and communities come together to “forget the year” and celebrate what’s ahead. Several of the Japan-related groups I’m part of are hosting theirs, and it’s a wonderful reminder of how traditions help us close chapters with gratitude. You’ll read more about that next week. Thank you for walking this journey with me. Warmly, Saskia PS: Maplopo’s still offering a whopping 70% discount on their Verb Masterclass program, check out the link below!
|
