Between progress and everyday joys

Progress in learning Japanese

I still remember the days when I thought I couldn't form sentences because the Japanese language seemed so unapproachable and complex. But gradually the tide has turned. What once seemed like an insurmountable hurdle has turned into small but noticeable progress. I can now clearly see how I am forming easy sentences - even if there are still small errors in particles or word choice - and that motivates me immensely. It's a great feeling to see that my efforts are bearing fruit, even if it's sometimes a struggle to master the subject matter. This slow but steady learning process always reminds me that the journey is the destination. I have even set myself a new goal: I want to master at least 80 kanji for the next language school. Even though I haven't really got to grips with kanji yet, I know that a good app will help me to develop further in this area.

A new lifestyle: diet and fitness

Japan has not only had a lasting impact on my language skills, but also on my lifestyle. Here's how my day went today, for example: After going to school, I went straight to my internship, which offers me valuable insights into my new everyday life. After four hours of work, I finished at 4.30 pm - enough time to get active. I decided to go jogging. With a goal of running ten kilometres, I discovered in Ohori Park that I could actually cover twelve kilometres - and at an impressive pace of around 4:52 minutes per kilometre. This was a good improvement on my previous runs, which were usually around 5:15 minutes per kilometre.

For me, this improvement is not only an athletic achievement, but also a reflection of the change in my eating habits. In Japan, my eating behaviour has completely changed. I eat rice every day, combined with protein, vegetables and sometimes a juice or fresh fruit such as kiwi. Even buying a Japanese apple - which cost around 250 yen - reminds me how different things are here: The quality, flavour and even the price of the food all contribute to a new awareness. It's fascinating how my body adapts to these new Asian conditions. I notice that I have more energy despite eating fewer calories, need less sleep - seven and a half hours is now enough for me - and that I am more rested.

Balance between work, self-realisation and free time

One of the most important things I have learned during this time is how valuable it is to live the day consciously. In the past, I was often busy planning my future and thinking about possible paths. Today, this focus has shifted: I live in the moment. Trying out the balance between work, projects and free time gives me the feeling of having more control over my everyday life. In my internship, at the language school and also when preparing my teaching course for the film - all of this contributes to a varied but balanced life.

It's liberating to be single again and to be able to concentrate fully on myself. The freedom to decide for myself what ends up on my plate - whether it's simple rice with eggs and vegetables or on days when I want to treat myself to some good chicken and spices - gives me an inner independence that I haven't experienced for a long time. In the past, eating decisions were often dependent on others, but now I can organise my everyday life in the way that suits me best.

Self-reflection and the path to inner freedom

What particularly impresses me in this phase is the development of my inner balance. I realise that I am thinking less about how to plan my future perfectly and instead living more in the here and now. It's about doing a little better every day, challenging myself without falling into perfectionism. The self-discipline that I build up in my eating and exercise routines carries over into other areas of my life. I (sometimes) work on spending less time aimlessly scrolling on my mobile phone and instead making conscious use of the day.

This inner freedom that I gain through a better balance between work, leisure and self-realisation is probably the biggest benefit of this change. It's a feeling that can't be measured in numbers, but in the quality of your own life. Even if I don't yet know exactly what the final layout of my everyday life will look like, I do know that every day - however imperfect it may sometimes be - teaches me something new. I let myself be surprised and savour every moment.

Outlook: Between school, internship and new projects

Looking to the future, many things remain open and exciting. As soon as my internship is over, I want to devote more time to my book, which I have already finished, and then revise it. I will also be moving from Osaka to school, which will be a completely new experience. All these changes show me that life is a constant process of learning and adapting - and that it is just as important to keep rediscovering yourself as it is to make plans for the future.

The last few weeks here in Japan have not only shown me how much potential I have, but also how much my everyday life and my thinking can change if you have the courage to break new ground. The progress in the Japanese language, the increased physical fitness and the conscious diet are not just goals for me, but an expression of a life in which I am finding myself more and more.

Final thoughts

There are days when I wonder whether I will ever be able to achieve everything I set out to do - be it in language, sport or my professional projects. But it's on these days that I try to remind myself that it's the journey that counts. Every small step, every improvement, no matter how insignificant it may seem, brings me closer to my goal. The balance between what I achieve and what I enjoy is the key to a fulfilled life.

I look forward to the days ahead, to new challenges and to continuing to work on myself - in Japan and beyond. I may also find a new life partner, but most of all I am looking forward to discovering my own strength and the inexhaustible possibilities that life offers.

I want to keep this entry as a reminder - as proof that it is possible to consciously organise your everyday life, reinvent yourself and make every day a little bit better. Because in the end, what counts is not how perfectly everything was planned, but how authentically and joyfully you live every moment.