This Mindful Monday, I’m still carrying the energy of the recent San Francisco Sakura Festival with me.

Being there as a member of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and as a JET alumna felt especially meaningful. The weather was glorious, the crowds were enormous, and the atmosphere was joyful in that very particular way that only community festivals seem to create. Everywhere you looked, there were cherry blossoms, smiles, music, parades, and people showing up for something bigger than themselves.

What struck me most was how many volunteer groups were involved. From early setup to guiding crowds to keeping things moving smoothly, so much of the festival rested on people quietly giving their time and attention. That kind of volunteering is a form of mindfulness in action. You are present, focused, and connected to the people around you, not thinking about what comes next, but fully engaged in what is happening right now.

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Continuing last week’s theme, the book "The Lantern of Lost Memories" invited me to think about the memories I might want to relive and take with me on my journey to the afterlife.

In the book, recently deceased souls enter a photo studio where a guide invites them to pick specific photos that represent key moments in their lives, one for every year lived. The pictures then get assembled into a lantern and lighted, so that the souls get to relive their most cherished moments as they move on to the next stage.

Last week I joined an online seminar by GLOBIS University - Graduate School of Management on Compassion-driven Leadership. It was a powerful reminder of what is really important in life. When I studied at GLOBIS 10 years ago I had Tad Wakasugi (the main speaker in the seminar) as a teacher, and I vaguely remember some of what he taught back then but when he mentioned Ina Foods and the 100-year calendar I felt like I was suddenly back in the classroom as this is one of the cases we studied!

A few weeks ago my husband and I signed up as volunteers for a local Japanese Cemetery Cleanup Day (Organized by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California), so last Saturday we headed out to Colma (south of San Francisco on the peninsula) for a half day of work and connection.

This does mean that we regularly drive out 40 minutes or more for Japanese shopping, as many of the ingredients he uses (and craves) are not available closer to home.

A few weeks ago my husband and I signed up as volunteers for a local Japanese Cemetery Cleanup Day (Organized by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California), so last Saturday we headed out to Colma (south of San Francisco on the peninsula) for a half day of work and connection.

I love giving back, so we’ve signed up as volunteers for a local Japanese Cemetery Cleanup Day (Organized by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California).

Dōsojin are gods or spirits associated with roads, travel and protection during journeys.