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This week's posts ended up exploring a question I've found myself thinking about more and more over the years: how do we adapt to different situations without losing sight of who we are? On Monday, I reflected on the many personas we all carry. The person we are when we're alone is often different from the version of ourselves that shows up with family, friends, or colleagues. For a long time, I believed authenticity meant behaving exactly the same way in every setting. These days, I'm not so sure. Living and working in Japan has taught me that adapting to context does not mean being inauthentic. The important thing is that the values underneath remain consistent, even when the way we express them changes. That theme continued on Wednesday with a closer look at our work persona, particularly in Japan. When I first began working there, I assumed professionalism meant fitting into a particular mold. Over time, I realized that Japanese business culture is less about becoming someone else and more about understanding your environment. Reading the room, communicating thoughtfully, and building trust are all part of professional life. The challenge is finding the balance between adapting to expectations and staying true to your own values. Professionalism, at its best, is not performance. It is authenticity expressed with awareness. To end the week on a lighter note, I wrote about my latest Japanese drama discovery: Maison Prison (or, as it is much more amusingly known in Japan, Mushoran Mitsuboshi). Despite my usual skepticism toward Japanese dramas, this one completely won me over with its quirky characters, absurd humor, and surprisingly charming prison gourmet theme. The post became a reflection on another form of adaptation: translation. Sometimes a title, a concept, or even a personality takes on a different form depending on the audience. The English title tells one story, while the Japanese title captures a whole layer of cultural nuance that makes the show even more enjoyable. Looking back, all three posts revolve around the same idea. We are constantly adjusting how we present ourselves, communicate, and even interpret the world around us. Whether navigating relationships, professional environments, or cultural differences, adaptation is part of being human. The key, perhaps, is remembering that adaptation and authenticity are not opposites. We can change our expression without changing our foundation. Different roles, different contexts, different audiences, but still the same person underneath. Thank you, as always, for reading. Warmly,
Saskia
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