2011-2013

  2013 marks 2 years since moving out on our own--out from the comforts of a communal lifestyle, out of the safety net of Christian faith and a church, and most of all, out of the nest in which we had spent our whole lives.
  On one hand, it was an unspoken failure, a taboo, that crippled us. On the other, it was a new start, a challenge, an opportunity to start from scratch in the world that is reality for the rest of the billions out here; a new beginning in the REAL world.
  For me, my number one goal from the start was to become "normal," in the sense of accepted and approachable. Though I will always be a little different, I wanted to be able to speak on the level of other people--to know my identity as a Japanese 26 year old, to know how to interact with those younger than me, my peers, and those older; though an individual, to be one among the masses; walking and talking like everyone.
  More important than money, I wanted to cover my bases, all the while still being a good father and husband, and being real to friends and family. While I can't be sure that I'm hitting the target in everything, I feel that I have been moving ahead and have been making substantial progress in many areas.
  A time will come that I will need to focus more on making money, because the world is all about money. But until then I want to make certain that what is most important, my foundation as a Japanese, is as strong as I can make it.