Sometimes The Simplest Things Bring Us The Greatest Happiness.

I like being a strong, independent woman, and to be honest, I was never afraid to be on my own.

Dido Armstrong

These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness.

Anthony de Mello

I feel like this is such an important and yet rarely discussed social problem in Japan. As someone now working in Japan, who was raised in a culture which actively promotes tolerance and understanding, it can be really difficult to deal with a lack of recognition that this is not just a "foreign" problem, but that it happens in Japan on a daily basis. Change is slow in Japan, but issues like this need to be made a priority for Japan to become a better functioning member of the global community and just a better country. It's sad that despite its reputation for politeness and innovation, Japan has fallen far behind in certain social issues such as this one. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there. 残念なことなのに人種差別は実際に日本にあると思います。日本で1年間留学した時もこの最近の2年間日本で働いている間にも、人種差別の件がよく気づいてしまいました。外国で育てきた私にはそれを見ると辛い気持ちがします。もちろん、母国はかんぺきではありません。国々の全部と同じように、自分の国の問題はたくさんあります。ですけど、この問題がどこにもあると言っても何もしなくてはいいとは限らないと思います。どこにもある問題だからこそ、自分の国でも日本でも、人種差別をなくすように働くべきです。 「日本には変更が遅い」とよく聞きます。でも、日本が世界の中では進むために、人種差別をなくすように優先しましょう。日本は礼節で有名なのに他の分野はまだまだでしょう。｢見えないからない」と言っている人がいるかもしれないが、そのわけではありません。

日本で働くこと、住むことが本当に大好きです。でも、眼下にある問題を無視しません。人間に愛情を込めて自分の人生の中に人種差別を気づいてなおしましょう！心からお願いします。

If you are not ready today, you will be even less so tomorrow.

-Ovid

Cake: no longer a lie.

I've got me a bouncy feeling! Original Finnish version here.

No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.

Oscar Wilde

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.

- Robert Frost

Language barriers are not friendship barriers.

When you're fighting to believe In a love that you can't see Just know there is a purpose For those who wait.