“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit … and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”
— Brian Dyson,  former CEO of Coca Cola

Just coming back from a trip from my hometown of Tokyo, there are many thoughts crossing my mind at the beginning of 2014. It was not only a great opportunity to catch up with my friends and family in Tokyo, but also to get a close look at what’s happening in Japan from a sustainability perspective.

Japan still is suffering from the 3.11 earthquake (a.k.a. the Great East Japan Earthquake) that happened in March 2011. Displaced people from the subsequent meltdown of nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are still struggling to find a permanent home. After the short-lived joy of being selected for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tokyo residents were disappointed that Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose had to step down due to yet another money scandal. And issues surrounding Japan’s aging population have deepened as the working population further shrinks.

Among these latest topics in Japan, what grabbed my attention most is the one regarding caring for the growing elderly population, an issue that is close to me as I have an elderly mother living alone in Tokyo. My mother has lived in the same community for over three decades and fortunately cultivated great friendships with her neighbors over the years, which gives her a support system. But what has changed significantly now to me is a lack of communities for the elderly in many areas in Japan. People seem to be nonchalant about others’ lives in Japan now, and I wonder what has caused this disconnect. More importantly, what kind of consequences should we expect from this phenomenon?

Living in “the city that never sleeps,” I myself juggle many different things on a daily basis and find it hard to take time for others. But should I not be the only one who notices that the older we become, the smaller our circle of friends and communities becomes? This happens, perhaps, due to the increase in the number and complexity of our responsibilities?

I, however, also realize the positive impact of taking actions to connect with others. I feel fully alive when I am connected with others, and my spirit is up when I help neighbors. I believe that being led by good feelings and high spirits can reveal who I really am – my authenticity — as other things can’t. Such an authenticity is the foundation of a sustainable society, I think.

With all this in mind, I would like to suggest that you reach out to others and create a larger community in 2014. I believe that we have an enormous power influencing those people in our community for the positive and small changes that we make in our daily life can enhance the lives of those around us.

Perhaps start with a simple step by calling to say hello to your distant family members or acquaintances today?

What do you think will help us build a more sustainable community? How do we develop a more closely connected community to solve society’s problems together?  We would love to hear from you!