The other day, I had the chance to talk with someone from overseas who is working here in Japan. He is married to someone from his home country and they have children together.

He told me, “I think Japan is the most peaceful country in the world. But when I think about my children’s future, I’m thinking about moving my family to another country instead of staying here.”

I didn’t press for details, but I completely understood what he meant. The Japanese language is only spoken in Japan. Considering his children’s future, it makes sense that he would feel a global language and environment might offer more.

Your perspective changes when you are single versus when you are married. It changes even more once you have children.

When I was trying to figure out how to respond to his words, two different viewpoints arose in my mind.

Spontaneously, my immediate reaction was, “When you think about your children, it’s completely understandable to feel that way.”

From a bird’s-eye, overarching perspective, however, I thought, “Is he really saying this to a Japanese person living in Japan?” Yet, at the same time, I knew he had a valid point, and I could deeply empathize with him.

Then came the dilemma: From my position, was it okay for me to say, “Even so, Japan is wonderful, and the Japanese language is wonderful”? Is it my place to meddle in his life or his family’s choices?

How do we respond in the moment when faced with such words? Balancing spontaneous empathy with a detached, bird’s-eye view is never easy, but it gave me a lot to reflect on.

#LifeReflections #CulturalExchange #PerspectiveMatters #Communication #LifeChoices #MindfulLiving #DeepThoughts #CrossCultural