A light conversation with a colleague this week unexpectedly hit a nerve — I realized I may not truly know what I want. That moment stirred a mix of frustration and quiet anger within me.

It might sound intense, but I am familiar with this feeling. It’s a recurring signal I’ve come to recognize over the years — a sign that it’s time to pause, reflect, and re-orient myself. At the same time, it’s also a positive reminder that I’m surrounded by driven, talented people who have a clear sense of direction.

Here’s how my week 1,530 unfolded.

1. What I read.

I continued and finished reading 高学歴親という病 (The Illness Called Highly Educated Parents) by Naoko Narita.

The quote that stuck with me:

“Parenting is a journey of turning worry into trust.”（子育てとは、心配を信頼に変える旅。）

2. Who I saw.

As scheduled, I met up with friends from my junior high and high school days. We had lunch and tea in Shinjuku, and the non-stop chit-chat lasted from noon well into the late afternoon.

The little details I observed:

While we were sitting around the table, laughing and catching up, I found myself feeling completely at ease. What made me feel so comfortable, I realized, was the shared sense that we were meeting not out of obligation, but because each of us is genuinely content with where we are in life right now. That’s not something to take for granted — reaching this state isn’t easy.

It’s been almost 16 years since we first met. Our time as students eventually led us down very different paths, and yet here we are, still connected. That alone is something to be deeply grateful for — the simple, beautiful fact that we can sit together after all these years, each with a smile on our face.

3. What I created.

I wrote a technical piece on the topic of liability shift for digital wallets.

The story behind it:

Lately, I’ve been dealing with technical issues related to Apple Pay and Google Pay. As part of this, I’ve been diving into the mechanics of 3D Secure (3DS), and the concept of liability shift has become increasingly relevant to my daily work. Since 3DS became mandatory in Japan last month, it’s a topic I can no longer overlook.

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

I’m flying out for a vacation later next week, and I’m really looking forward to it. Excited to reunite with friends at my destinations and enjoy some time away from the usual routine.

Hope you had a great week.

Catch you next week!