I’m going to carry my own hand towel from now on. The Japanese take recycling seriously. So much so that there are no paper towels in the bathrooms and rarely will you find a hand blower. People are responsible for drying their own hands by carrying a hand towel. So that’s what I’m planning to do from now on. It’s a really simple solution that will probably save lots of paper towels and trees.
I’m going to pay attention to the beauty in my own backyard. I traveled 7,157 miles from my Florida home to Japan. The first thing I unexpectedly noticed were the hydrangeas and gardens. You would’ve thought I’d never seen a flower in my life! When I returned home, I paid my apartment’s office a visit. I’ve never noticed these flowers at the entrance (probably because I’m generally upset when I’m there). But I noticed this day. I’ll start to be more present as a result of my trip.
I’m going to have a little more gratitude for the ability to be me. Japan has so many implicit social rules that it begins to be overwhelming and ridiculous. You aren’t supposed to drink bottled water while on the train, but beer is okay. You are supposed to line up in a single file upon entering the train. There are literally lines on the ground where you should stand. I have a bit of a rebellious attitude so these rules were slightly confining. I’m grateful that I live somewhere where conformity is a choice, not a way of life. I’ll be a little more grateful about this as I continue living in the States.
Garlands Abroad 