2 weeks ago I left Canada on a family vacation to a country I’ve been very curious about: Japan.
Last night we flew out of Japan just after 5 pm on Sat May 13th & landed back in Toronto at 4:44 pm on Sat May 13th.
Just in time for Mother’s Day back home.
Time is a funny thing. Japan is 13 hours ahead of Toronto and it’s a 12 hour direct flight.
Navigating the time change, and the perspective shift that Japan’s Spirit, and culture offered was breath-taking.
Truly, I hardly know where to begin.
My biggest takeaway was the importance of creating SPACE in your life.
I noticed spaces built in everywhere in Japan where there is little space given its huge population.
Multitudes of zen gardens, the AirBNBs in Tokyo and Kyoto, 2 Ryokans (traditional style Inns) in Narita and Hakone, and our final night at a Prince Hotel.
The practice of being in the NOW moment where time disappears requires space to BE Present.
It’s impossible with a cluttered inner mind in a cluttered outer space.
Japan is known for its hard work ethic, and like anything – too much of anything is not healthy, yet there’s also a calm there that allows people to enjoy life with less stress.
I’ll be sharing more takeaways and pics, but today…
CELEBRATING MOTHER’S DAY!!
Since it is Mother’s Day today around the world (Japan too!), I first wanted to recognize the sacred relationship of Mother’s everywhere with their children, and you with your own Mother.
What I took back from Japan was the beauty in Mother Nature at a whole new level.
Here’s a glimpse of the vast gardens at Naritisan Temple on our first day.
I could see the temple from our window, and hearing the early morning bells ringing in Narita felt magical.
For Mother’s Day I wrote an article for Your Tango on some ways I’ve learned to enjoy this beautiful, and at times very challenging experience of being a mom:
6 Ways The Right Kind Of ‘Mean Mom’ Shows Her Daughter Love
It was inspired from a column I read as a teen in an Ann Lander’s Column called “The Meanest Mother in the World” (see below).
Finally, if you’ve lost your mother, I know this day can be very difficult. My dear friends Binu and Brenda recently recorded a special podcast for Mother’s Day.
I hope you find their episode on Brenda’s She Flourishes podcast helpful. It may also be valuable if you’re looking for ways to support a friend or family member who has lost their mother, or if you’ve lost a parent.
Here are some of the topics we discuss in this special episode:
- How to cope with the difficult emotions that can show up on Mother’s Day.
- Creative ways to honour Mother’s Day when your mom has passed.
- Making space to grieve and allow both the positive and the difficult emotions that can show up on Mother’s Day.
Enjoy this day of celebrating, honouring, and valuing a vital role – motherhood in your relationships as a mom, daughter or son and with Mother Earth in nature.
Divine nourishment is everywhere when you have the space to cherish and respect it’s presence.
