February 2025

Apparently, today is International Beer Day—though I also heard it’s another special day, but I can’t remember which. That got me thinking—what exactly are we meant to do with an “International X Day”? Are we supposed to reflect on the broader impact of the subject being celebrated? For example, on International Women’s Day, people organize

Getting started can sometimes be the hardest part. I was reflecting on this recently—ironically, instead of just diving into a task. When I pick up a book to study, there’s no decision-making involved. The structure is already there—I start at the beginning and move forward. There’s no need to figure out where to begin, what

Every year, the same cycle repeats itself. I get closer to the tax return deadline, and suddenly, the pressure mounts—I have to get it done. Oddly enough, the stress of thinking about my taxes is worse than actually doing them. I feel a physical tension in my stomach, so I find ways to distract myself

Watching the heartbreaking footage of the tsunami that devastated entire towns in Japan, I was struck by an interview with a foreigner living some distance from the disaster. Though he wasn’t in immediate danger, he had lost power and transportation. His primary concern? Food. The first thing he said was, “We don’t have any food.”

The need to “save face” can have serious consequences—one of the most striking examples being the Fukushima nuclear disaster. But what exactly is “face”? It’s easy to assume this is an issue limited to certain cultures, but in reality, we all have a deep desire to be perceived in a certain way. When someone treats

Last week, I came across an ad for a podcasting course that claimed, “35% of people prefer to absorb information through listening.” It made me wonder—where do marketers get these statistics? Are they using the Miyagi principle? If you’re unfamiliar with it, the idea is: Everything we know was made up at some point by