Every time I learn about the world, I realize that there is no single 'normal'

I still cannot forget the first time I took my children to Bali.

As we were walking through a tourist area, a child about the same age as mine approached us.

"Money, money."
They said, holding out their hand.

At that moment, the first thing I thought was,

"Wait, seriously?"

My children were startled and hid behind me.

But it was strange.

The people in Bali were not in a rush like people in Japan.

Time flowed slowly, and everyone looked happy.

The daily life I took for granted in Japan is not taken for granted in the rest of the world.

For that child, it might have been their daily life just to survive.

While traveling, I sometimes saw young children working or people rummaging through trash cans.

On the other hand, I also met people living lives full of smiles.

Even if they didn't have many possessions, they laughed with family and friends and enjoyed the present moment.

That was when I first thought about what wealth really is.

What is happiness?

Every time I went abroad, I became less sure of the answer, and my world gradually expanded.

Since then, I have visited various countries, including Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, New York, and Scandinavia.

Even if we didn't speak the same language, someone would reach out if I was in trouble.

People who looked at a map with me.

People who offered me food with a smile.

People who showed me the way with gestures.

Our nationalities, religions, and cultures are all different.

Even so, traveling abroad taught me time and again that human kindness is truly understood.

In the past, I thought there was only one 'normal'.

But that was just my 'normal' living in Japan.

The world has its own cultures and its own values.

Being different is not wrong.

Once I was able to think that way, the way I look at people changed.

"Why?"

Instead of jumping to conclusions, I found myself thinking more often,

"That's another way of thinking."

I don't have the power to change the world.

But there are things I can do for the future.

To be without prejudice and to try to understand our differences.

To respect others and never stop learning about the world.

Traveling abroad was not just about visiting tourist spots.

It taught me that there are many ways of living and many kinds of happiness in the world.

The future is not changed by the grand actions of one person, but is built by the accumulation of small choices made by each individual.

That is why I will never stop learning about the world.

I want to walk forward while encountering unknown values and accepting our differences.

I believe that is what I can do for the future.

#WhatICanDoForTheFuture