You know how you say you’ll always do something close to you, like hike the mountain next to your house or do some sort of tourist thing just down the street, but you never get to it? I think these sorts of things never happen unless you specifically plan for them to happen, but yesterday I had my plans canceled suddenly, and I made the decision to do what I always said I would.

Yesterday once I arrived at Mt. Haguro for work, I got a message saying that the day’s plans had been postponed. While of course I was a bit annoyed at having traveled a relatively far distance, I realized I was also on Mt. Haguro right when the Sakura were in full bloom, and in addition, the weather was simply stunning.

So I did what I had always planned to do. I had always wanted to film the Sakura around that area, but just never dedicated the time I needed to do that. Luckily, I had my camera with me, and I spent an hour or so getting footage around the five story pagoda, and then went to Gyokusenji temple, probably my favourite temple in Shonai.

So I realized, it helps to have a sort of list of things you’d like to do, even if it’s just in your mind, and things you can do if you get last minute cancellations. Not only does that help you get over the feelings of rejection, or I’ll feeling towards the person who cancels at the last minute, but you can also get something productive and hopefully creative out of it.