I recently heard news that a project I had invested not a small amount of time on had been cancelled due to budgetary constraints. It's a real shame that the project ended, had it been developed even more it would have led to a great economic impact on Tsuruoka city. Such a shame that it's seen as an oversight. (Perhaps it can be resurrected, will need to think on this).

Anyway, it came as a bit of a shock to me. I was expecting this project to continue, for the above mentioned reasons, but now that it isn't, it reinforced the idea of Ichigoichie, that of 'only once, ever', transient nature of life that comes from Japanese tea ceremony. It was a reminder that some things don't last, so no matter what you are involved in, you have to give it your all.

This philosophy has far-reaching ramifications too, not just in tea ceremony. It's something to remind yourself that every single moment you have is the only moment you have to be in that moment. So, make the most of it!