Blog

My plan is to post daily, but not so much about my stay. After getting back, and having time to process, I’ll likely put up some information about my trip.

For the time being, though, it’ll just be more of the same.

Flying across the country, I was struck by just how much we’ve advanced in 125 years. The journey of air travel began with the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in 1903.

The aviation industry has made remarkable progress – from propeller-driven aircraft to the modern jetliners we see today.

And now commercial flight lets us get nearly anywhere in the world. Just without much leg room.

I’d been thinking of visiting Japan since I first took a Japanese language class in high school. A number of factors kept me from going over the years. However, I’m finally going.

A captivating country, Japan has long been a dream destination for travelers from around the world. With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and modern cities, Japan offers a unique experience that is both traditional and modern. Paradoxical, yet somehow seems to fit.

From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto, Japan is a land of contrasts that seamlessly blends its ancient traditions with modern innovations.

Setting goals is an essential step toward achieving success in any aspect of life.

However, it is the commitment to these goals that separates the achievers from the dreamers.

Every day, we make decisions, conversate, and have ideas bounce around our heads. How often do we consider the origins of what we think and feel?

And not the grand beginnings of thinking or anything. Just, from what part of our self do we make decisions.

Sometimes it’s easy to see – fear is a huge one. We almost always know when we’re making a choice based on our fears.

But other elements are harder to get a grip on. Is it charity, or a need for self-importance? Humility, or something disguising itself thus.

Knowing yourself is the goal, even if it isn’t always easy.

In today’s fast-paced world, where constant noise surrounds us, finding quiet moments has become increasingly rare.

We are bombarded with a never-ending stream of information, notifications, and distractions that can make it challenging to find peace and tranquility. However, amidst the chaos, it is important to recognize the profound impact embracing quiet time can have on our overall well-being and productivity.

It occurs to me that travel is forefront of my mind because of my trip to Japan this week. I’ve wanted to visit since I was 15 or 16 years old, and it’s actually a little bothersome that it’s taken me this long. Still, I’ve no doubt that it will be well worth the wait.

Two hours. Right now my writing allocation is two hours a day. Honestly, a bit more, but it’s a dedicated two hours in the afternoon.

And I spend a lot of time staring at the wall in front of me or out the window beside me. Probably more than half the time allocated to writing is spent not writing. Not that I’m blocked. In fact, I can really knock out about a five to seven posts in that two hours – so I’m getting ahead of myself.

But I don’t do anything else with that time. It’s either writing or not writing. But it is not reading, or having the tv on in the background, or taking phone calls. It is two hours to write or think about writing.

And staring at the wall.

Barriers aren’t necessarily bad things. They can function as a failsafe or a precautionary measure. They can evaluate preparedness and similarities.

They can also be misused, preventing potential candidates from ever joining the ranks of whatever it is the barrier is managing the flow into.

Such barriers can be financial, physical, or even time. Learning to play an instrument has the following barriers: the cost or availability of the instrument; it’s maintenance; an instructor; and time to practice.

In that particular case, the barriers to entry aren’t difficult per se. They just require a level of commitment.

Consider Harvard, one of the premier Ivy League schools. Beyond the roughly $80,000 you’ll need per year – tuition, books, housing, and meals – you’d also want an SAT score of 1580 or higher, or a 35 on the ACT. Also recommended to carry nearly a 4.2 GPA.

Those happen to be high barriers to entry, though, not as high as some other situations. And again, with determination, and being mindful of how cold Cambridge gets in the winter, it’s possible to fulfill that dream – if that’s what you want.

These obstacles and challenges we face when trying to achieve something, or join a particular field, or pursue our goals – they can manifest in various forms. Sometimes it’s financial constraints or a lack of resources. Maybe there’s limited access to education or training. And even the familial and societal pressures we face.

It can be discouraging to individuals pursuing their goals and not finding the proper footing. Or even looking at the obstacles, sadly, many don’t even begin.

When you consider that everything, though, is a choice of some kind. A trade off. And every decision has some sort of cost attached, whether it be minute – a bit of time or exertion – or astronomical – quite literally, in the case of becoming an astronaut!

It’s all a matter of how you frame those choices.

Continuously learning and expanding our horizons, we feed our minds with a rich tapestry of information.

Reading, classes, attending seminars, or exploring different disciplines. These expose us to new perspectives and concepts that can trigger moments of insight. The more we learn, the more raw materials we have to shape into innovative ideas.