A volunteer’s journal When I moved back to Japan in 2017, one thing that excited me was a chance to volunteer for the Olympics. While that journey was delayed by a year, the opportunity to be part of one of the world’s biggest events is now becoming a reality. The…

There is more to a good online meeting than just showing up prepared We now have more virtual meetings than face-to-face ones. I am sure there are some who are more comfortable with virtual meetings than in person meetings. However, many of us miss the intimacy of being in the…

Greetings from the road less traveled Hello, I’m John Cunningham. It took me a long time to be comfortable saying that. I used to just think of my name being a formal label that others could use to identify me. Nowadays, I consider it a description of who I am…

The 3 X 3 rides again — It has been a long time since I wrote a featured writers piece. Not because there are not any good writers to share, but because I have been really really busy. I possess a bucket load of ideas and a ton of ambition, but something I’ve met head-on recently is…

Through your powers of social awareness — In the northern hemisphere spring has sprung, and with the virtual elimination of COVID restrictions there will be more opportunities to socialize this year than there have been in a long time. While you can have fun just focusing on your own whims and desires, spending time with friends is…

Discovering the benefits of embracing other cultures — The first full moon of March welcomes the colorful holiday of Holi in the Hindu diaspora. Holi is the Hindu festival of love. It is a day that celebrates good conquering evil and love over hate. On Holi, it is customary to forgive and forget and to repair broken relationships. …

Tips to keep others from controlling you — My friend Matt was walking through the park listening to his favorite Bruno Mars songs the other day when he was nearly run down by a teenager on an electric scooter. In a fit of anger and shock, he yelled at the girl for her carelessness. He claims that she…

The little things make a big difference — It can be hard to smile and endure day in and day out. Life is hard, the challenges sometimes seem overwhelming, and drowning our sorrows in inconsequential activities like watching sports, binge watching previous seasons of Ted Lasso, or mindlessly scrolling social media may seem like good ways to relieve…

Play the long game — It is common for us to quantify success by what we attain today. Real success comes through building, development, and years of commitment. Think about it this way, would you prefer to shade yourself from the sun under a sapling or the historical Tree of Secrets? While that new tree…