My new work uniform.
So far, so good.
Disciplining myself to work with this new schedule. Oddly enough, now that I have left the world of "regular job," to blog, grow food, debate, philosophize, and just be, in general, there seems to be more to do than ever, and I love it. I am learning to make myself get down to business at a flexible kind of flow that changes every day. Though it be much more free, I have found that I am feeling more driven than ever to be successful, as I am now the captain of my own ship and my success rests on my own performance, wits, and ability. There is no longer a central "company" here keeping me "safe."
I woke up in a panic this morning thinking I had to "be at work." The feeling that washed over me when I realized I was "at work," was phenomenal.
What's been going on, and what led me to this "goal" post.
Just last week a friend and acquaintance of mine here in Niigata (the city where I live in Japan) passed away. It was a shock to everyone in the community, as he was a such a vibrant and lively guy, only 46 years old. One minute he was going about his normal business, and the next his heart stopped due to a blood clot, and he was in a coma. His family just came into town and gave the doctors permission to shut off the life support, as there was no longer hope for his survival.
I went to see him yesterday to say goodbye. It's always a strange thing for me to see someone's corpse at a funeral or wake. It always shocks me. My friend wasn't there. It was such a strange sensation. I expected him to open his eyes when I touched him and to say "just fuckin' with ya man!" No. Nobody was home. Just a lifeless case. So still that my eyes seemed to hallucinate the rising and falling of his chest.
If this can happen to him, when is my time to go? What about my wife? What about my son? Where is my friend right now? Is he somewhere else? He certainly was not that body that was lying there. That's not him. But where is he??? Is it true that we go on after death, or do we just go on in the hearts and memories of those whose lives we've touched? Is consciousness a product of being alive, extinguished with the death of the organism, or does it go on? He is not here. WHERE DID HE GO???
Thinking about this put things in a more "urgent" perspective for me. That is to say, I want to enjoy and make the most out of every single second I have here on this planet, and I want to make an impact for the better on those around me. I don't need to "change the world." I just want to be the best human being I can be, while I am here, providing for those that depend on me, leaving them some semblance of financial security, and, by far the most important, leaving a legacy and memory in the hearts of my wife and son, and my friends and family, of someone who truly cared, and stood for what he believed in.
As such, I have some goals!
View from the KafKA shack this beautiful morning.
1. Learn How to Save a Life.
No, I am not talking about that shitty "The Fray" song. I am talking about the real thing. Basic knowledge I feel every human being should be taught from childhood, but that which so few seem to actually possess. Millions of people go to work in their cubicles or other jobs every day, work hard and slave for a paycheck to support themselves and their families, but don't even know how to do basic CPR or other life-saving procedures which can save those precious human beings they are working so hard to support!
Check this story out. I just came across it last night on Facebook (data-mine book). A professional hockey player has his jugular sliced open by an ice skate. He's saved by a guy on scene who has military training and shoves his fingers inside the wound to clamp off the blood flow. Amazing, disgusting, and disturbing, but these potential dangers are part of being human. Our bodies, while very resilient, are still vulnerable to so many things. Shouldn't we have some basic, practical skills to deal with the preservation of our lives, and those of others?
@finnian here on the platform contacted me recently letting me know I had won one of his cargo pocket severe trauma kits. He has kindly offered to mail it to me all the way over here in Jay-pan, and I couldn't be more appreciative.
On top of receiving this gift, I will be brushing up on my CPR skills and knowledge, and posting a view instructional diagrams/cheat sheets around the house. My sister has two small children, and has posted such information regarding choking and how to clear a child's airway in her home, in a spot readily visible to all babysitters and guests. I think this is a good idea.
Since my friend has passed away, I have been marveling at how little I know about what should be basic human knowledge: how to grow food (another goal of mine), how to be self-directed, and how to do basic, emergency medical measures, for example. After all, we are in these bodies. We are using these minds. Shouldn't we know some basics about their use and preservation?
2. More Family Time.
Now that I am my own boss, I would also like to spend more time with my wife and son.
One of the saddest things about "modern life," in my view, is the utter paucity of time spent with family and friends due to the necessities of the "rat race." Being that almost all nation states have made unofficial currencies and independent economic activity highly illegal, the human race as a whole suffers under forced economic slavery, resulting from unsound economic practices forced upon the rest of us by a ruling "elite" at the barrel of a gun. If you think I am kidding just try to seriously start your own independent currency or economy and see what happens.
Why does the state wish to control economics? Well, in a word...control. Yes, control for the sake of control. Where freedom is allowed to thrive, prosperity thrives. Where prosperity thrives, time is made available, as less time must be spent on basic survival. This makes the arts, high culture, scientific exploration and innovation, and yes, family time, all the more possible. All of these, especially a tight-knit family bond, are threats to the violent statist, status quo.
.jpg)
Anyway, regardless of my success in this new career, I am committing to spending more of these precious moments I call "my life" doing things together with my family. Back in the day folks used to farm and work together. Now they ship us to an office and we dump our kids at daycare, hardly seeing each other throughout the week, and we call this "living." This is not a sleight to or any kind of judgement upon the folks who live this way, or even who choose to live this way. This is just me saying, for myself and my life, FUCK THAT WAY OF LIVING.
I WANNA BE WITH MY CLAN!
3. Japanese.
While I'm always absorbing and studying Japanese in my daily life from my surrounding environment, I hope to make a more focused effort this year, with my new start.
To this end, I have taken a part-time position as an independent contractor with a crypto startup here in Japan. I am already learning a lot. I had to jump out of my comfort zone, do an interview in Japanese, and am continuously challenged by the Skype calls, basic conversations, and translation work the position provides. I pretty much have to learn through doing, and the tasks I have to do, and the learning goals themselves, must be streamlined with my own personal goals in order for me to really get into it.
As the company I am working with has a unique and innovative concept, aimed at bringing more truth and higher quality information into the world, I am all about it.
On top of that I may even get back into kanji drilling/writing practice, etc.
Summary: ready to Kick Ass (thank you in advance for your aid).
Steemit has been huge for me on in my journey from "normal job" to living on purpose (though I still have a long way to go, and actually, this journey of learning, I am happy to say, never truly ends!) And I am glad to have a place to learn, grow, and document these things that are important to me, leaving an indelible record on the blockchain. The community here has changed my life. So many of you are in my thoughts now frequently, and we have never even met in "real life." Some of us have, and that makes things all the more wonderful.
Regardless, there is a Japanese phrase I wish to extend to you, in the interest of our future interactions, and in gratitude for all the goodness shared up until this point, which is yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Meaning, basically, "Please be kind to me, and let's help one another as we continue to grow."
So there it is, and here we go! Onward!
Yoroshiku!
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DTube and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
Hey man! Sounds like things are coming together for you nicely! Speaking of being with your clan; when d'ya think you'll be able to come down Saku-way?! Weather's beginning to get nice and warm (well, for Nagano, anyway!) and I've got lots to do ;)
I could probably get down there sometime in April man. Maybe later in the month. If not April then May. I'm sure you have your hands full with the farm!
I've got to get my feet dug in out here both online and in the ground (teaching completely finished now, hung up my chalkboard and dunce hat) and make sure my family doesn't starve, he he.
But yeah. I'll be out there ASAP.
Cool! You'll be welcome anytime, man, so don't rush it.
A timely reminder to pay attention to the things that really matter, especially quality time with family and friends.
My wife is a retired professional nurse. I must get her to teach me CPR in the next few days. I may also need to look for an outside course or two.
Thank you!
Glad to hear it, @wentong-syhhae. How wonderful that your wife has such knowledge.
Thanks for commenting! God bless!
Can so relate to being the 'captain of my own ship' it amazes me when I hear people say they would be 'bored' without a job, for me now there are just not enough hours in the day, very rare I get on here much to comment. Life changes when you live with intention and take back the steering wheel, then the Universe seems to provide you with all and more to fill up your time. There is always something to research, write about and expose ;) Great work on the Japanese too my friend, I cant imagine how challenging that must be!
Indeed! Thank you for the encouraging comment, @tonysayers33.
welcome!
I WANNA BE WITH MY CLAN!
Truest sh*! I ever read.
clans before plans - do together!
Congratulations on going your own way. I started on my own path about a decade ago. At first it was my own English school, then I transitioned to doing photography freelance. Unfortunately I am often quite busy and away from my family just as much as I was when I worked a "real" job, but on the good side I am my own boss to some extent and have much more freedom. Steemit gives me hopes that I can start building up a new revenue stream here and will be able to afford to work outside the home less often. We shall see, eh? But at any rate, I love being my own boss and doing my own thing. I hope you do as well. Good luck, man!
As to your first story of the untimely death. You know, I was there recently. A good friend recently died. He was only 60. As you know 60 is a very special age in Japan, and he and his wife were very excited about celebrating it. They had already booked a ryokan in takayama and were making plans. I went to see him shortly after New Years and he was happy, as usual, and we talked about a variety of things: success, Trump, Abe, WW2 history, beer, and so on. Then two days later I get a call from his wife at midnight. Very strange time to get a call from a Japanese person. I pick it up and she is sobbing and tells me he suddenly died.
Man... what a huge shock! It's now 3 months later and I'm still not completely over his sudden death.
We all have to embrace what we have now. Cause it could be over tomorrow.
Thank you!
That rules. I didn't realize you were a full-time photographer. Muy excelente.
So sorry to hear about your friend. Yeah man, we're not guaranteed tomorrow today. Always good to remember. Life is now.
If you would allow me, You are doing yourself a great favor by shifting your focus from what is wrong with the world to what really matters in your personal life. Two years ago I had been stressing myself over the political situation in my country until I realized that it is doing me no good. I kept my interest in politics as minimal as I could. It is not selfishness to focus on what you can influence rather beating yourself up for what you can't change. Wish you the best and have a nice day. :)
Thank you, @alignment.
Hi,friend good morning from india.You are always fantastic in your hearful thought.Life is so precious,we should not miss the every opportunity to live it with our family.I had always seen you work with this attitudes ,I know your friend's death had moved you greatly.But i know you are that personality ,who is becoming a great inspiration to others in steemit world,I always honored your opinion and decision.Wish you a very beautiful time in your life.
Good morning! Thank you! You as well, Jay Hind!
very cooll! (:
Cheers, @eporaivai!
nice story