Grateful Lessons from Asia: A Thanksgiving Reflection
How Can a Country So Small Feel So Big in Heart?
Japan is 93.57% the size of California, with a population of 124.5 million and yet so incredibly clean, efficient, organized, and respectful. How is this possible? I am still pondering this question. A key commonality I observed was the personal responsibility individuals take for their impact on their community and everyone they encounter. It’s woven into their culture—whether through a simple bow of respect or carrying a bag to dispose of their own trash until they find a proper receptacle. I witnessed a densely populated region that is safe, quiet, and remarkably free from stress.
This fall, I spent five weeks traveling through Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. I immersed myself in their rich, often turbulent histories of wars and empires and learned about their spiritual foundations in Shinto, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. Across these countries, I consistently experienced calm, peace, kindness, and respect. These qualities grounded me in the present moment, allowing me to connect deeply with the love and kindness that reside within us all.
Even as I stood amidst thousands of visitors in sacred temples, I felt a sense of calm and love. The people of Asia have left me with an enduring sense of peace and confidence in the beauty of our shared humanity. Too often, we chase fulfillment, peace, and love externally—through our careers, achievements, appearances, or the approval of others. But what if we turned that around and began with ourselves? By showing radical love, forgiveness, and respect to others—and to ourselves—we could profoundly shift our own lives and those around us.
What we do affects others and our communities, just as what others do affects us. This is the law of cause and effect. If you want to find peace, love, and happiness, be peaceful, loving, and happy—and share it freely with everyone, even those you think may not deserve it.
Thank you, Japan, for your respect, grace, temples, shrines, and amazing cuisine. Thank you, Vietnam, for your joy, genuine kindness, and sacred temples. Thank you, Cambodia, for your spiritual guidance through the Buddha way and the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. And thank you, Thailand, for your smiles, respect, vibrant flowers, gentle elephants, and incredible temples.
Be Peace. Be Kind. Be Love. Be Respectful.
With love, light, and gratitude,
