The last year were growing months. At first I sat here at my table looking out at Tokyo and felt lonely and guilty. Don was off to work and I sat here alone. I was back in the country I admire and love. I even speak a passable version of Japanese. But, I sat 23 floors up, feeling lonely.
I took a few art classes and I met some people. Don and I took a couple of trips and I took a few photographs. And I read, listened to podcasts, watched Korean dramas. I was quiet and contemplative.
I am taking a comprehensive course on ‘me.’
Stuff. I like to learn stuff that you have to dig for. I am curious. I like ideas that rearrange my brain a bit.
I am curious about compassion. What is compassion? Are humans basically compassionate? Do all cultures look at compassion the same way? Have humans evolved to be more compassionate? Is compassion link to a structural change of the brain? If humans have evolved to the point that we can find a vaccine for Covid-19 in a few months. And we can send an extraordinarily complex telescope 1.5 million miles away in 6 months and can unfold it and then see 12 billion years ago into the origin of the universe. And my iPhone can take photos, tell time, and remind me to get up and stretch. Then are we evolved enough to stop an autocrat from invading Ukraine and from using nuclear weapons? Can we stop polluting the earth?
I have experienced different stages of life. Birth, babyhood, childhood, adolescence, young adult, parent, middle age, early old age, old age. I’m 74, still pretty able and I am clear of mind. But, like all stages of development, I have much to learn. I believe it is a time of celebration; longevity is not to be taken for granted. I believe it is a responsibility to be an Elder. Like other stages of life, it is a time of preparation. It is a time for reflection, learning, compassion.
I am in love with the Japanese language. Kanji 漢字。I am curious to know why I like the language so well. I think it might be that it makes me feel calm and makes me smile and makes me think, “wow! That is so interesting.” I’ve got a book that might tell me.
And Haiku. In this study I get to study kanji and then I get to try to figure out how haiku poets think differently than I do
I’m looking for other curious people who like to learn new stuff and who are kind and positive. I’d like to sit on that bench in the plaza in Italy and talk about ideas. Maybe it is a metaphorical bench.
I am curious about different cultures. It’s OK if I watch Korean dramas.
I am curious about people. So I can take photos of them. I am curious to learn how to make interesting photos. And woodcut prints.
And there you go.
