“HUMILITY” MEANS I HAVE MORE TO LEARN and CONTRIBUTE
2026-09-09
My master’s thesis from U of Washington was on the “Difference Between the Right and Left Brain Thinking” and Arthur Brooks, who grew up in Seattle, constantly cites McGilchrist as he lectures at Harvard on “HAPPIERNESS”. I have also spent the last 56 years gathering, writing, and sharing stories about the Japanese in America Experience.
“Humility” in our Japanese in America community too often means, “being quiet and not being disruptive.” This morning, I’m listening to an interview with Mathew McConaughey and these words from him about “Humility” resonate big time!
To learn means to gain knowledge, understanding, or a new skill through study, teaching, practice, or life experience. Given the opportunities for more life experience, at age 87, I’m writing down and following my newly worded/added life purpose of: “utilizing my next 10+ years for benefiting our Pacific Northwest Community with researched findings that ‘happiness is finding meaning with Japanese Heritage Values'."
My point is that, here in the Pacific Northwest, we, Japanese in America, have been the majority minority and we have a poignant US history story to tell. Writers and researchers, Dr. Iain McGilchrist & Arthur Brooks PhD site Asian/Japanese Culture and Arts as ways we can balance left brain Western thinking with right brain Asian Values for “HAPPIERNESS”!!
My master’s thesis from U of Washington was on the “Difference Between the Right and Left Brain Thinking” and Arthur Brooks, who grew up in Seattle, constantly cites McGilchrist as he lectures at Harvard on “HAPPIERNESS”. I have also spent the last 56 years gathering, writing, and sharing stories about the Japanese in America Experience.
I have a specific aim of sharing our “Japanese Heritage Values Stories” with the goal of motivating School Children in Washington State to think and write more about their own Heritages!
A couple weeks ago, I went to 60th Anniversary celebration. I chose to sit with a group at a table at the far end of their yard on this beautiful, warm August Bellevue evening. I like meeting new people and I’m pretty good with asking questions. As I’m enjoying the sushi and wine, I share that I’m working to fund raise for $3m to put a new roof on our Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW). The individuals at this table are poets, writers and generally successful individuals. They give me a “ho-hum” assurance that it is worthwhile and doable.
Then, I go further and talk about raising $50m for sustainability the next 100 years. The table comes alive and Larry M starts asking me a bunch of questions. Two days later I get a two page email with all his suggestions and an agenda I can take back to the JCCCW board meeting.
Back to the anniversary party; later in the evening listening to the anniversary couple’s grandchildren entertain us with their band and vocal. I start talking to Brian M. Brian’s son is the drummer. Talking more about the $50m got him more excited, ending with, “Where can I donate?”
I will be LEARNING and blogging more about FUND RAISING AND HAPPINESS!!!