Take a Minute: Reflecting on Japan

Maybe it's because I've actually visited the country before, or maybe it's because something like that can easily happen here in the San Francisco Bay Area without a warning, or maybe it's because you can't turn on the TV without them declaring "DISASTER IN JAPAN" in big bold letters.... but truly, what's happened in Japan is still so surreal.

I'm truly humbled by all that's going in Japan right now, and my heart goes out to all those personally affected by this terrible tragedy.

With that in mind, I would like to propose that we take a minute. Take a minute to appreciate all that we have in our lives - electricity, running water, plenty of food, friends and loved ones alive and well. And extend that minute on to maybe a day free of complaints. Because losing your phone is terrible but it is not the end of the world. Because missing your train will delay your plans and inconvenience you a little, but it is not the end of the world. Because, well, we've gotten too complacent and annoyingly so, and maybe let's take this moment to appreciate all the beauty around us instead of noting and status-updating all the things that are wrong.

Just take a minute.