It was fun getting to be part of your Japan adventures, even if only as a spectator from a far. I liked getting a slice of your life. Looking forward to seeing how that experience makes its way, as a lens, for everything else you write from this point on. Ready for movies and whatever else you want to share.
Some days I want to pull a Taku and burn everything I’ve written, other times, all I want is to hold onto everything forever and preserve every thought. I think back to a few years ago when I shredded and threw away a bunch of old letters. The right thing for me to do at the time, but it was probably also a mistake. And nearly everyday I have the urge to delete everything I have online.
Such is life.
Oh and I LOVE that picture of the teeny tiny vase and flower!
Thank you for coming along the journey querida Sandra! I felt you close. Great feeling to have people like you, on the other side of the world, cheering you on and making the trip richer and more layered, and excited to know you’re up for whatever’s next, hope you know it’s mutual :) And what a great phrase you coined 🤣 "pull a Taku"... I get the feeling, and actually admire you for doing it once with those letters, it feels heavier, more definitive and there's decision and power in that. But yeah, "such is life", navigating between those extreme feelings.
Glad you liked the picture, and just glad, again, to have you here!
I read "on the other side of the world" and was like what is he talking about? Mexico is so close, we're not that far away lol but then I remembered you are just out there disappearing to new places. WHO KNOWS WHERE OSCAR WILL BE NEXT
Listen, I'm not opposed to still maybe pulling a Taku. You never know!
😂😂😂 That's funny, more now that you mention it, since we've never met in person and I went and came back but felt accompanied all the time. Someone has to write about this atypical international mentally close, physically far, friendships.
And I think you (and I) can now only accomplish half-a-Taku since there's quite a bit of our thoughts in other people's emails. Or maybe 9/10ths of a Taku... but still, hope you don't :)
Wow wow Oscar. You are such a gifted storyteller. The pacing, the details, the insights. What a beautiful way to honor Japan, to teach us, to make us reflect. From your insights I gather that the Japanese have become very adept at recognizing the dualities in life--that multiple conflicting things are true simultaneously, and this is an inescapable reality of life.
I want you to travel more so that we get more of your travel writing!
Ohh my dear friend! Such wonderful praise you write, I deeply thank you. And you’re so right, you express it beautifully, the Japanese are very good at “recognizing the dualities in life”, and being content with them and in them, and there’s lots to learn from that, because as you say, it is inescapable. Regarding traveling more to write more, sounds like a great excuse and maybe we can do it together!! ;) Muchas gracias mi estimado amigo
What a fantastic series, Oscar. I learned so much about you, Japan, and new intentions for the way I want to travel. Reading Zen on the Rocks felt like watching a beautiful documentary shot by you.
The photo of the flower reminds me of the little flower in the children’s book “The Little Prince.”
Thanks for giving us this view into your trip of a lifetime and sharing your most tranquil introspections.
Thank YOU Rachael, for being there all along the trip and reading about it, it definitely gave it another layer of which I’m deeply grateful. Also loved the flower vase reminded you of The Little Prince, you’re so right, it’s so fitting. Your words about the documentary are extremely flattering! And very humbled you took away things that will accompany on your trips, excited to hear how they go and on what adventures you embark :)
A great coordination between using words to depict your inner subjective experience well punctuated by photography to capture a glimpse of the outer beauty you enjoyed. Thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring!
I also appreciate the spontaneity and flexibility of your adventure dictated by your values and following the impulse of connection over seemingly logical convenience and efficiency. A meaningful and worthwhile sacrifice it would seem.
It was a beautiful moment of synchronicity triggered by you, Tai, grateful you attuned me to it! And also very grateful for your words, loved how you described it and flattered to know that’s how you see it. Thank you Tai!!
What a joy it always is to read you. I look forward to watching this sojourn seep into your writing for the rest of time. Thank you for sharing so generously with us all. From your wealth you have made all your friends richer. Hope to visit you soon!
Ohh my dear friend, your comment is a poem in itself. Felt so good reading this. I’m forever wealthier from having friends like you read what I write, so it’s a virtuous circle. And very much looking forward to that visit!!
Oscar, I loved it. It's so you, so your voice. And this is the most important thing in our writing: to strive to sound like ourselves, to have our own voice that always comes out. If I were read this piece without knowing it was by you, I would recognize your voice. So this, to me, is very important, and it's true for all of us here. As we progress in this journey, our voices stand out more and more clearly. I really enjoyed this piece, it's like hearing you talk. Some passages were particularly touching, like "I finally interpret his answer as that tension that comes from wanting to make the most out of life and being content with what you already have, and that's where life happens" or "We have an endless Japanese goodbye at the station". I like how you mix the journaling with your deep considerations on life and connection and friendship. And I laughed out loud at the chicken balls and ass. 😂
(This is what I wrote to you when I read the first draft of this piece. And I hereby confirm/affirm everything, multiplied by 100 :))
Silvio! Thank you so, so much. Your words are always so encouraging and reassuring, unsure what I’d do without them. You’re so right about having our voice come out, we have to embrace that and let it flow. And so glad you enjoyed those parts! I enjoyed first living them, afterwards writing them and then knowing dear people like you enjoy it too is amazing. Abbraccio grande!
It was fun getting to be part of your Japan adventures, even if only as a spectator from a far. I liked getting a slice of your life. Looking forward to seeing how that experience makes its way, as a lens, for everything else you write from this point on. Ready for movies and whatever else you want to share.
Some days I want to pull a Taku and burn everything I’ve written, other times, all I want is to hold onto everything forever and preserve every thought. I think back to a few years ago when I shredded and threw away a bunch of old letters. The right thing for me to do at the time, but it was probably also a mistake. And nearly everyday I have the urge to delete everything I have online.
Such is life.
Oh and I LOVE that picture of the teeny tiny vase and flower!
Thank you for coming along the journey querida Sandra! I felt you close. Great feeling to have people like you, on the other side of the world, cheering you on and making the trip richer and more layered, and excited to know you’re up for whatever’s next, hope you know it’s mutual :) And what a great phrase you coined 🤣 "pull a Taku"... I get the feeling, and actually admire you for doing it once with those letters, it feels heavier, more definitive and there's decision and power in that. But yeah, "such is life", navigating between those extreme feelings.
Glad you liked the picture, and just glad, again, to have you here!
I read "on the other side of the world" and was like what is he talking about? Mexico is so close, we're not that far away lol but then I remembered you are just out there disappearing to new places. WHO KNOWS WHERE OSCAR WILL BE NEXT
Listen, I'm not opposed to still maybe pulling a Taku. You never know!
Thank you, friend<3
😂😂😂 That's funny, more now that you mention it, since we've never met in person and I went and came back but felt accompanied all the time. Someone has to write about this atypical international mentally close, physically far, friendships.
And I think you (and I) can now only accomplish half-a-Taku since there's quite a bit of our thoughts in other people's emails. Or maybe 9/10ths of a Taku... but still, hope you don't :)
Wow wow Oscar. You are such a gifted storyteller. The pacing, the details, the insights. What a beautiful way to honor Japan, to teach us, to make us reflect. From your insights I gather that the Japanese have become very adept at recognizing the dualities in life--that multiple conflicting things are true simultaneously, and this is an inescapable reality of life.
I want you to travel more so that we get more of your travel writing!
Ohh my dear friend! Such wonderful praise you write, I deeply thank you. And you’re so right, you express it beautifully, the Japanese are very good at “recognizing the dualities in life”, and being content with them and in them, and there’s lots to learn from that, because as you say, it is inescapable. Regarding traveling more to write more, sounds like a great excuse and maybe we can do it together!! ;) Muchas gracias mi estimado amigo
What a fantastic series, Oscar. I learned so much about you, Japan, and new intentions for the way I want to travel. Reading Zen on the Rocks felt like watching a beautiful documentary shot by you.
The photo of the flower reminds me of the little flower in the children’s book “The Little Prince.”
Thanks for giving us this view into your trip of a lifetime and sharing your most tranquil introspections.
Thank YOU Rachael, for being there all along the trip and reading about it, it definitely gave it another layer of which I’m deeply grateful. Also loved the flower vase reminded you of The Little Prince, you’re so right, it’s so fitting. Your words about the documentary are extremely flattering! And very humbled you took away things that will accompany on your trips, excited to hear how they go and on what adventures you embark :)
A great coordination between using words to depict your inner subjective experience well punctuated by photography to capture a glimpse of the outer beauty you enjoyed. Thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring!
I also appreciate the spontaneity and flexibility of your adventure dictated by your values and following the impulse of connection over seemingly logical convenience and efficiency. A meaningful and worthwhile sacrifice it would seem.
It was a beautiful moment of synchronicity triggered by you, Tai, grateful you attuned me to it! And also very grateful for your words, loved how you described it and flattered to know that’s how you see it. Thank you Tai!!
Que belleza de artículo, experiencias y reflexiones.
Gracias por siempre compartir TANTO.
Andrea! Te agradezco tanto el apoyo y tiempo, gracias a ti! Y espero escuchar (o leer!) de tus aventuras pronto :)
What a joy it always is to read you. I look forward to watching this sojourn seep into your writing for the rest of time. Thank you for sharing so generously with us all. From your wealth you have made all your friends richer. Hope to visit you soon!
Ohh my dear friend, your comment is a poem in itself. Felt so good reading this. I’m forever wealthier from having friends like you read what I write, so it’s a virtuous circle. And very much looking forward to that visit!!
Oscar, I loved it. It's so you, so your voice. And this is the most important thing in our writing: to strive to sound like ourselves, to have our own voice that always comes out. If I were read this piece without knowing it was by you, I would recognize your voice. So this, to me, is very important, and it's true for all of us here. As we progress in this journey, our voices stand out more and more clearly. I really enjoyed this piece, it's like hearing you talk. Some passages were particularly touching, like "I finally interpret his answer as that tension that comes from wanting to make the most out of life and being content with what you already have, and that's where life happens" or "We have an endless Japanese goodbye at the station". I like how you mix the journaling with your deep considerations on life and connection and friendship. And I laughed out loud at the chicken balls and ass. 😂
(This is what I wrote to you when I read the first draft of this piece. And I hereby confirm/affirm everything, multiplied by 100 :))
Silvio! Thank you so, so much. Your words are always so encouraging and reassuring, unsure what I’d do without them. You’re so right about having our voice come out, we have to embrace that and let it flow. And so glad you enjoyed those parts! I enjoyed first living them, afterwards writing them and then knowing dear people like you enjoy it too is amazing. Abbraccio grande!