Just the liberation

When I passed the highest level on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test all those years ago I felt like I had conquered Everest. Up until that point I was led to believe that passing that test was the holy grail, the be all to end all, my magnum opus.

How wrong I was.

Little did I know, that test was just the beginning. That test was simply a foray into the world of the Japanese language, a tiny bump on an otherwise endless highway.

Anyone reading this who is studying Japanese is probably going to feel dejected. I know I would.

But it should be the opposite! You shouldn’t feel dejected! You should feel motivated more than ever!

Why?

Because I’m saying there’s much more to life! There’s so much more to it than meets the eye. Sure you’re struggling hard trying to remember all those words and grammar points, but you should be glad that it’s just the beginning! There’s a whole other world out there for you to discover, and you’re well on your way to unlocking it by simply showing up, and putting your best foot forward.

And that, in itself, is liberating.

P.S. this post is as much about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test as it isn’t.