About These Posts

Each day I add a new journal entry to my social media feeds. Here, I take that day’s entry and expand it through the lens of my Good Life Creed, which you can read about in my book Going Alone (available for free on this website). These dissections aim to connect ordinary reflections with the enduring objectives and principles of the Creed.

Journal Entry (10/31/25)

I woke this morning to find six lessons already booked next week. I hadn’t expected things to move so fast. I thought it might take time—like starting a new YouTube channel—to be discovered, earn a rating, and find students. But overnight, without a single review or bit of history, I suddenly have six lessons on the calendar. That feels good.

Part of me is a little disappointed to give up my freedom so soon. But another part reminds me I’m probably seeing it the wrong way. A job—like a Red Bull—can give a person wings, and taken in moderation, it shouldn’t do too much harm. One or two hours a day, Monday through Friday, is just enough to bring a touch of structure, a bit of purpose, and maybe even a few extra yen to take Yumiko out for ice cream later in the day.

Dissection

This reflection captures the first tangible sign that the new rhythm of work is beginning to take hold. The initial wave of students brings both satisfaction and a hint of apprehension—a subtle negotiation between structure and freedom. Work, once the all-consuming center of life, now returns in miniature form: a disciplined but humane engagement with the world beyond one’s own quiet sphere.

#Time (Objective: Make Good and Effective Use of Time and Resources)

The careful boundary of one or two hours a day reflects mastery of time—structure without enslavement, rhythm without regression.

#Social (Principle of the Social)

Conversation and exchange return as meaningful acts of participation. Through teaching, work transforms from obligation into fellowship—a way to connect and contribute.

#Arena (Principle of Arena and Utility)

Even modest effort places us again in the arena of life. The act of showing up, teaching, and engaging with others affirms continued relevance and purpose in a world that never stops moving.

Takeaway

Freedom and structure need not compete. In the right measure, a little work can enliven the day, deepen connection, and remind us that even in retirement, we remain players in the grand and ongoing game of life.

#RetiringInJapan 🇯🇵 #GoingAlone 🌵 #Time #Social #Arena