親友よ

親友よ- Shinyuuyo - Best Friend

I've been thinking a great deal about my loved ones recently. It's apparent to me that the longer one spends away from his or her loved ones, the more he or she begins to realize the importance of these people. The more I spend time away from my friends and family, the more I think how unbearable it would be for me to not have these people exist in my life. Certainly you could argue about the "what if's," like "what if you hadn't met them in the first place?" or, "what if you went your own separate ways?" I would counter those arguments by stating that all of those what if's are legitimate possibilities, but not realities.

With four weeks remaining in Japan, time is flying and remaining stagnant at the same time. Some days go too fast, and some days seem to never end. With the thought of returning home in four weeks on my mind, I can't shake this wild mixture of emotions. With the thought of seeing my best friend, my 親友よ, again in three weeks, some days are excrutiating. It's being able to see it, and being able to reach out and almost touch it, but knowing that there are still 21 days standing in between points A and B, that make these excrutiating days seem like the hardest days I've ever lived.

In the thirteen weeks I've spent away from my family (家族), my friends (友達), and my best friend (親友よ), I have come to understand the importance of these people in my life. So, in this case, there are no "what if's," because this is reality. You, and you, and you, and you, too, are important. Thank you for standing by me this entire time. I am grateful for your presence right now in my life. It may be unclear right now, but in time, whatever sediment remains suspended, clouding up an otherwise clear view, will settle, and my love and gratitude will be realized to their fullest extents.

I'll take this for what it's worth and use all that crosses my criss-crossing paths to strengthen myself and grow. I love my family, I love my friends, and I love you, so much. I am a fortunate person.

旅- Tabi - Journey - As it is, the journey continues moving forward, onward and upward...