Japan as Only 1

  Have you all had a good year, or perhaps a challenging one? I believe life is ultimately a balance of 50:50, with neither entirely good nor entirely bad years. Every year, I, without much sophistication, declare, "I'll make this year the best!" and then confidently proclaim, "It was the best year!" Not because there were no hardships, troubles, or sad moments, but because I believe that even the difficult and painful experiences, the worries, served as opportunities for personal and organizational growth. Looking at it this way, things that may initially seem bad can ultimately transform into something very good. In this perspective, the good remains good, and the challenging becomes a valuable experience, a part of one's assets. Of course, I'm not so evolved as a human to turn every difficult thing into an asset. There are inevitable misses, but at least converting some events into positives makes life a considerable gain. You can shift the balance go...

  As December quickly approaches its end, we are about to close the curtains on another year. In Japan, there's a proverb that says, "All's well that ends well." When I was younger, I interpreted this as a result-oriented idea. In other words, as long as results or achievements are left in the end, the process doesn't matter much—it lacks significance and value. My current understanding, however, differs. "The past that has passed cannot be changed. What can be done is only the present and the future. That's why, for the impending end, let's take action on what we can do now." That's how I feel. Everything has an end. The end of the year is December. Companies face closure or bankruptcy, the conclusion of employment is retirement. If a project deadline concludes, so do friendships and romantic relationships. And no matter how outstanding and wonderful a person is, they will eventually reach the end of their life. The conclusion of all events ...