Jet lag kept me up most nights this week.
Kindle reading in bed was my quiet companion. I listened to the heavy beat from my speaker, turning it off as its battery died. Outside, I caught the drunken voices of couples who had missed or “missed” the last train, wandering the streets.
It made me a little nostalgic for those university nights when staying up late was just part of life.
Here’s how my week 1,537 unfolded.
🎥 What I Created
Projects:
Quick Reflections / Log of My Early Summer Journey
Story behind it:
This piece is a laid-back record of my early summer adventures — 59,700 kilometers flown, 66 hours in the air. Trips like this are rare, and capturing it in writing helps preserve the energy, the faces, and the transient memories before they fade.
🏃 How Much I Ran
Distance / Time:
26.13 km / 3 hours 3 minutes
Body & mind notes:
I feel light. I’m happy with how smoothly my return to kickboxing went after more than a month off. Mixing running with kickboxing adds a jazzy rhythm to my routine. Kickboxing is intense, so I usually limit it to a couple of times a week, while I run daily.
📚 What I Read
Book / Article / Podcast:
I enjoyed “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
Quote that stuck:
“It had always been something of a gamble — if luck was on your side, you might be able to meet. That was all it ever was. (…) But there are countless reasons why someone might not be able to keep a promise. If you’re traveling by car, there could be traffic. Even on foot, there might be road construction, someone could stop you to ask for directions, or you might simply get lost. You could be caught in a sudden downpour or other natural disaster. You might oversleep or mix up the time of the meeting. The future is unpredictable — that’s just how it is.”（もともと、賭けのようなものだった。運が良ければ会える、その程度だった。（中略）約束を守れない理由はたくさんある。車で移動なら渋滞、徒歩だとしても道路工事や、道を尋ねられたり、迷ったり。豪雨などの自然災害にあうかもしれない。寝坊や、約束の時間を間違える事だってある。とにかく未来はわからない。）
🤝 Who I Met or Spoke To
Who:
A high school classmate was visiting Tokyo with her family. They came to attend the wedding of a Japanese family they’re close with.
Memorable moments:
We had already reconnected at our high school reunion, so it felt a bit surreal to see her again so soon — less than two months later.
Back in high school, we hardly interacted. She was in the Western riding team, and I remember her as someone who always had a bright, clear smile. When we met again at the reunion, we discovered we actually had quite a few things in common, and that opened the door for real conversation.
We went to one of my favorite ramen spots and ended up deep in conversation. We talked about her business, my recent work trip, the self-publishing authors she’s been reading, and the Korean dramas she’s currently obsessed with. We were so caught up in the conversation that our ramen got cold and the noodles soggy.
I admire her approach to life — fearless when it comes to exploring new things, open to learning by doing, humble enough to find lessons in any experiences, yet always optimistic about what’s ahead.
I’m glad I went to that reunion. High school classmates can have such a strong impact on your life — even years later — and bring unexpected inspiration.
🔭 Next Week’s Peek
Looking forward to:
I have a one-on-one with my manager next week to align on my priorities for the second half of the year.
Why it matters:
After reading a recent book, I feel much clearer about how to prepare for a constructive conversation. This meeting will be my first real chance to put what I’ve learned into practice.
Hope you had a nice week.
Catch you next Sunday!