Finding 'Mental Space' Amidst a Shinkansen Delay Caused by an Earthquake: Organizing Adult Time with AI Life Design

While on the Shinkansen heading to Tohoku, the train came to a stop just before we were about to arrive.
It was a delay caused by an earthquake.

Since it was our first time experiencing this, both my wife and I were honestly quite anxious.
'Will we be okay?' 'What will happen from here?'
Those feelings gradually spread within us.

However, what was surprising was that the inside of the train wasn't as noisy as I had expected.
Of course, everyone must have had their own anxieties.
But no one raised their voice, and the atmosphere didn't turn tense; it remained somewhat quiet and calm.

At that moment, my wife and I talked about how this probably wasn't the first time for the people in this region.
An elderly couple sitting nearby, who were speaking in the Tohoku dialect, didn't seem to be without anxiety, but they were chatting while occasionally sharing laughter.
In that sight, I felt a sense of great composure.

Thinking about what would happen after arrival, I imagine it must have been truly difficult for those who had work or appointments.
We were in the middle of a trip, but the burden on those facing such events within their daily schedules is surely incomparable.

Even so, while it took time, announcements regarding the situation were made carefully and continuously.
I could imagine many people working behind the scenes for recovery, and I felt that the staff must have undergone repeated training to prepare for such situations.
I remember that in the time where we had no choice but to wait, a feeling of gratitude gradually welled up.

If it were the old me, I'm sure I would have been much more irritated.
I might have been angry about my plans falling apart and exhausted by the restless time itself.

But this time, it was a little different.
Having changed jobs and my way of working, I have been able to create more space within myself than before, and I think that has changed how I perceive unexpected events.

Perhaps a person's 'current mental space' shows on days when things don't go as planned.
A travel delay is by no means a happy event, but even so, during that time, I was able to realize that I had changed just a little bit.

I feel that was also one of the important lessons of the trip.

Thank you for reading until the end.

In this seriesOrganizing Adult Time: AI Life Design,

we provide tips for busy adults to regain 'quiet mental space' in their time and hearts

with the help of a reliable partner called AI.

Instead of aiming for perfection, why not relax your shoulders a little?

Why not design a life that is uniquely yours together with AI?

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