Choose Love NOT Hate

2021.09.
[Posted on my Instagram account]

As we wrap up August and are entering into a new month, I reflect on this past month; one month out of the year when I and, I believe, many other Japanese people reflect on the effects of war, effects of such destructive weapon as atomic bombs.

With pandemic still having such strong hold on us, with the rise of or more visibly reported Asian/American hate crimes still at large, news coverage focusing on chaos and violence in Afghanistan of late, and countless other hardness we, humans, have created, this year is giving us an opportunity to have a closer look at the choices we are making in creating our lives.

As a Japanese woman living in the US, every time I step outside my apartment, I walk out the door with extreme caution. Asian/American hate crimes and Asian/American targeted crimes are always on my mind. I feel angry, exhausted, scared and many moments, tears roll down my cheeks with emotions I don’t yet know how to put in words. With all these complicated emotions, I strive to lead my life with love.

I find importance, more than ever, in creating how we shape our world with love. We always have choices. To love is a choice. To hate is a choice. We impact each other with the actions we take, and if we can pause for a moment, take a breath and choose to lead with curiosity and empathy, I wonder what kind of world we can create together.

I choose love and not hate. I want to keep creating our lives with love.

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