Elegance in Resilience
"If left unpolished the glow of precious stones will not luster forth; it must also be quite true of these human hearts of ours." - Empress Shoken (1849-1914) We can all be "diamonds in the rough", an abundant wealth of potential, all equally worthy of meticulous care. A raw gemstone can be woefully overlooked, through precise work in self-development brings out our unique inner shine of our hearts. Like gem-cutters it takes gaffes, discipline, and self-reflection to help shape individuals into better versions of themselves. This was the lesson my friends and I learned during our trip in Japan. We stayed for two weeks in the midst of autumn in 2024. We visited shrines, museums, gacha machines, and many many delightful cafés. We enjoyed walking over five miles per day...