I lost my chill in Tokyo...

(human moments)

Author

J Q
April 23, 2024

Today’s newsletter is a rant.

Because I must vent.

But don’t worry! There is a point — some takeaway advice on being chill.

I came back to Tokyo this past week. I love it here — it always feels like home.

But damn, I totally lost my chill the first day. Not the smoothest arrival!

Hah, alright let’s dish.

Tokyo is known for its politeness and amazing hospitality. And while I had all those things (for the most part), everything else seemed to fall apart for me that first day back.

Let’s start with context.

After ~24 hours on planes, walking through airports and traveling between places with no sleep, I was feeling…tired.

But that’s all fine really — it’s all part of the adventure! So this is just providing some context on my state.

Because exhaustion can definitely make carefreeness harder in the face of stress.

So, let’s keep moving.

Back in my hometown, I had reserved some accommodations (as one does). But I used a different company this time, and communication was…sporadic.

Not much info was given and response time was super slow or non-existent.

How do I pay? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Is my room confirmed or should I keep looking? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What time shall we meet for contract signing? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And what’s the exact address I’m going to? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lol, maybe I should’ve looked for another place, idk. But the location was solid and the price was good!

Or my dumb adventurous mindset was apparently eager for a fresh challenge…

Anyways, I showed up to Tokyo around 4 AM on a Wednesday.

Besides the stomach cramps from cheap airplane food, immigration and customs were a breeze!

So all was going well. But I still hadn’t received a specific time to meet the house manager…

So I figured I’d just show up and there’d be some obvious office or something like that to check in at.

There wasn’t.

No intercom or note or last-minute email telling me what to do, when to come and how this jazz was going down.

Since I’d been lugging my bags around all day, my human body became pretty hungry and thirsty…

I was getting…oh no…frustrated…

I was losing my chill!

Sh*t.

So I emailed Mr. House Man again.

I tried calling.

I even asked random tenants coming out of the building (who looked at me nervously…).

But no progress.

I waited for about 30 minutes, but started losing hope.

So I decided to look for alternative accommodations and began making my way back to the station to go to a cafe.

But first, I picked up some sandwiches and water from a 711 to address those hunger pangs and parched lips.

Street lunch! Enjoyed on the side of the building smiling at passerby (*I usually don’t do this in Japan since eating in public can be a bit rude)

Anyways, back to the station I went.

Extra sweaty and airplane smelly, I ordered my usual coffee (black) and sat with my computer, staring at the screen, pondering “what do now?”

But just then, I got an email from the house manager!

He asked, “where are you? I looked outside and you were gone.”

lol

Erlkjagdkhfg;aijrgd!!

Dude!! Come on…hahah

Well, f*ck it! I quietly proclaimed.

I already have the room reserved and it’ll be easier than trying to find something else from scratch. So I walk back another 20 minutes to the house.

And then waited another 15 minutes outside.

lol

Finally, I’m fetched like a package left outside.

But the whole time, dude was super cavalier and didn’t seem to care much about much (something I generally applaud!). But given this context and situation, my feathers were feeling a bit ruffled!

Anyways, he gave me the scoop.

I dotted some T’s, crossed some I’s.

And made my way to the 5th floor — the cherry on top of my arrival.

No elevator and all shower rooms (+ kitchen) are on the 1st floor.

But it’s fine! Really, I’m fine — things could be so much worse. My life is still pretty awesome.

So I’m not complaining — just venting and using this situation as an example to highlight a chill piece of advice.

Because that day, I lost my chill.

And it wasn’t the first time or the last time.

Because we’re human. And life is life.

Wrenches will be tossed! And curveballs will be thrown!

So after settling into my room, I sat in front of a big sliding glass door and meditated to some zen-ass music while enjoying a solid view of Tokyo’s suburbs.

And just like that, I’m back, baby!

Once again, chill is restored.

So remember:

Becoming chill doesn’t mean you never get stressed.

It just means the stress doesn’t stick around and you don’t let it control you long-term.

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