A New Beginning

A new day awakes. It does every day, even sometimes we are too busy or used to our life to realize it. Everyday may seem similar, though everyday we are changing and days cannot be always the "same".

It is often interesting to observe that days, weeks, years pass by and when we look back we can realize how life goes on and how each person we do know has been evoluting differently even we used to share the same backgrounds years ago.

Sometimes people we thought we would have always as close friends eventually change and take different directions we would never expect. Some others keep living in memory of how the good days were and wondering if they would come back after all.

Others take actions and move earth and water to recover those who did disappear leaving good memories on their heart.

We all live in the same timing, we see the same sun rising, but how we live now and before is totally different depending on the person's experience and view of life. Our choices determine our experiences, how we can see our own life and how we can live our future.

Therefore it would be also interesting to know not only the options we have, but also how we do choose. Which are the motivations that drive people to consider or look for options and finally make a choice and accomplish it for real. Because all in all, to decide it's not easy, but it can certainly change our life, not only to gain experience but also on how other people perceives we are.

When I think back on how I started to change my "destiny", there are two things that come to my mind: the well known as "the land of the rising sun", and the big need to "create" something good on my life. "Create" does not necesarily mean to get on something material, but in my case it was more on "how to move on my life" - or how to create myself.

Japan, the land of the rising sun, inspired me for years enough to be curious on how different cultures are. I started to know about Japan simply because I once found a book to learn japanese in the bookstore and decided to buy it.

I never expected it would change my life completely. I was just curious to know how japanese characters could be written and to learn simply a little bit on how did japanese people communicate with those "strange" symbols ("Kanjis" and "kanas") among themselves.

I truly never had intention to learn the language nor even look forward to visit there. I was just curious. But since the time I started to understand how symbolic their language was, at the same time bizarre for a simple spanish teenager, I became more and more interested not only in their language, but also in their culture, their people, their politics, music, fashion and every aspect of the country. I became so interested that I even read Japanese news more than Spanish!

Therefore, I have had often a wish on moving and not stop. It was very difficult for me to make a first step to move on, but once done, the reward you get is really precious. You learn how to choose and how to create your own itinerary in life. You learn that your life belongs to you and you can accomplish anything you are longing for.

My wish was to discover the world at that time more than developing a good career, and Japan was going to be definetely my first step. I was already so much willing to go and experience how japanese lifestyle was, how people thought, how story was like.

It's a long story to tell how things went but I can say that I learnt a lot and partly I was so touched by the culture that luckily I could take good things back to my own which define currently part of my character.

It is not only what I saw and felt, but also how you can see over it and learn something from it.

Later on experiences and choices I have made, remind me that there is a common wish inside me on every single step I take. I have learnt to choose and create the direction I want and wait patiently for the proper time to make the effort or slash into the chance.

It was not easy for me to change my future and try new things, but as long as you try, you learn that there is always something good to learn from it and that the world does not move unless you really care to build it on. I wanted to change my life, my views, I knew there was a world waiting to be discovered and so I tried to learn from it.

There are often two sorts of people in the world; those who stare at how the world changes, and those who make own effort to change it. What type are you in?

One of the most respected figures in Japan was the Samurai. Well known worldwide, it often refers to a strong loyal warrior who fights for justice by his own.

These samurais, even being poor, they were loyal and made a history in Japan. Because they fought to change their world.

Even though the original name and characteristics differ from the westernized figure, the origins of the samurai are based on what the japanese culture named "Bushido" (武士道), a japanese code of conduct meant to be "the Way of The Warrior".

There are seven virtues that lead a samurai's life under the Bushido way of life. These include;

Rectitude (義, gi) - Meaning taking the right choices. Believe in own justice, not in what other people says, but in what you believe.

Courage (勇, yū) - Be strong when others feel weak. Live life fully, complete and wonderfully. Encourage yourself to be strong and smart, knowing your weakness and scareness to make yourself stronger.

Benevolence (仁, jin) - If there is a chance to help others, do it. And if there is no oportunity, create it even if it takes you out of your original way.

Respect (礼, rei) - Respect others, even your enemies. Do not be cruel.

Honesty (誠, makoto or 信 shin) - Sincerity. A Samurai value remains on what his words say and make things he promise accomplished.

Honour, Glory (名誉, meiyo) - A Samurai is onwer of himself. Choices you make and take reflect who you are.

Loyalty (忠義, chūgi) - A Samurai is loyal to those who are under his protection. His words are like fingerprints, will follow them wherever he goes.

Another two characteristics are Wisdom (智, chi) and Care for the aged (悌, tei), which were added up later on time to the figure of the samurai.

I have often had appreciation to the figure of a samurai. Its inner power, not only physically but also mentally provides him virtue enough to balance whatever happening in his life and take a proper direction in which he can find happiness, and pursue his dream until it can be finally accomplished.

Moreover, he owns respect by respecting others and being loyal to his principles. Its character reflects his integrity as a human being and he is not only willing to fullfill his life but also among the way, do whatever possible for those who are near them to be happy.

Probably he wouldn't be rich, but at least he can control his life properly and gain a good environment and experience in his life.

The image of a samurai for me is quite interesting. Words like honour, respect and integrity still surround nowaday's lifestyle and even these terms are sometimes forgotten in westernized countries, as you travel in asia you find that honestity and loyality to people is one of the common backgrounds, in whatever age.

A new beginning has come for me after my year in Malaysia and every single day I wake up I remind of all these people I have met, all these values that I have been touched by years, and let the experience I have had lead me wisely into a new day, a new step and a new decition in my life.

Every day is a happening in life. Where we are now, where we want to go is made up day after day within our actions and thoughts. What we see and touch, what we feel, what we hear, what we wish will drive us bit by bit into taking actions for what we are longing for. Even the road may seem long way to reach its end, the rectitude, our attitude towards our own principles will be the common background to lead us to change our life.

Never give up on the way, fight for what you want and fear not!