I’ve been wanting to cross continents off my list for some time now, and while it isn’t a continent in its own right Japan counts as part of Asia. Add that to Europe, Africa, and North America I’m about to be a little less than halfway done. We are going to see Nippon and this represent a huge moment in my life and the lives of our kids. This is big. It is moving way past my comfort zone to try on an experience I once only dreamed possible. This is what living is supposed to look like: you try new stuff, keep pushing yourself, and you find out what makes you happy. In contrast I live more than half my life in a world of lazy satisfaction where the couch is the center of the universe and the world is piped in one youtube clip at a time. Yes, I play video games a lot, and that is part of the problem. Yes I contributed to a culture here that is downright toxic and borderline medically unsafe. However, what I helped to make I can also help to unmake.
I want this trip to be a step forward for everyone. I will do all that I can to make that into fact. I can only lead them to that step–they have to want to move forward like I want to move forward. They are excited the way I am and the way my partner is, so that is a healthy start.