As I navigated the first half of the week feeling under the weather, Wednesday brought an unexpected twist— a snowfall in Tokyo, where cherry blossoms should be just around the corner in March.

Yet this morning, the melted streets revealed cherry buds, responding to the warm embrace of the sunlight.

Here’s how my week 1,522 unfolded.

1. What I read.

The quote that stuck with me:

What would it be like to live in a society where the rich are not only better off, but much stronger, cleverer and longer-lived, to boot?

2. Who I saw.

After watching the movie “Wicked” with my former housemates from my shared house days, we enjoyed a late lunch at a nearby pub.

The little details I observed:

They are two wonderful, independent women who excite me for my 30s. At the same time, they remind me of the importance of planning for the future if one hopes to start a family.

When focused on personal goals, especially in our careers, it’s easy to let time slip by. However, for women, the desire to build a family is time-sensitive. I’m realizing that the next 3 to 5 years are crucial for me in that regard.

3. What I created.

Last Wednesday, I hosted a team workshop to introduce my team to other teams in the office.

The story behind it:

With the recent expansion of our team, the workshop aimed to enhance understanding of our work and foster better collaboration. I kept telling myself to stay in “the second circle” throughout the session.

To ensure I connected with the audience, I made eye contact and spoke more slowly than usual in 1-on-1 conversations. Before moving on to the next section of the presentation, I paused to invite any questions.

To kick things off, I started the workshop by mentioning the snowy weather. It might seem super boring, but it was still better than nothing.

Next Week’s Peek — What I’m looking forward to and why

Next week, I’ll be taking on a new responsibility at work. After visiting Singapore for training a few weeks ago, I’m finally doing my first shift. The entire week will bring a new workflow, and I anticipate it may involve some high-stress moments. I hope to embrace whatever comes my way.

Hope you had a great week.

Catch you next week!