Life Notes
Light not wastedTime passes through us, like wind through a corridor.
Some moments carry a particular scent or light, lingering briefly before they fade.
Some feelings cannot be carried by a lens; some memories are hard for an image to hold.
Perhaps keeping a written backup of a fleeting feeling is the gentlest yet most effective way to resist forgetting.
2025 notes
New place
On moving night we set a small lamp on the floor, the room still piled with boxes. We used a cardboard box as a table and had takeout. Only after waking the next day did it feel like we had truly moved in.
A trip to a small town
A spur-of-the-moment trip to a seaside town. We arrived at dawn and had hot soy milk by the station first. A walk along the breakwater, the sea wind knocking the hat every which way. On the way back, the ticket got tucked into the wallet.
Home at night
Returning at night to a familiar corner, the shop’s sign had changed twice. The rain had just stopped, the road reflecting light. We stood a while before walking on.
Old bookshop
Ducking into an old bookshop in the rain, the little bell by the door kept ringing. Picked a secondhand essay collection and read a few pages in the shop. The owner wrapped the book in old newspaper.
Dinner by candlelight
Once the power went out, we ate by candlelight. The food was simple, but the room was so quiet you could hear the rain. Later we restocked the spare candles.
A framed pair
Sorting through photos, we picked two old ones for the same frame. Set by the window, the morning light was just right. We’d glance over every time we passed.
Reunion after long apart
A friend I hadn’t seen in years came to visit; we walked down to the river together. Talked late into the night, still with plenty left unsaid. Before parting we agreed not to let it be so long next time.
Night run route
Once it turned cool I started night runs along a fixed long street. Streetlamps passed one by one, my footsteps clear. I slept soundly after getting home.
Nothing big happened this year, but quite a few moments worth looking back on.
2024 notes
River at dusk
At dusk I went to sit by the river for a while; someone was playing music in the distance. The wind was light, and fine glints of light danced on the water. I sat until dark before heading back.
A handwritten letter
I wrote a letter to a faraway friend and used up two sheets. Only at the end did I realize how much I normally wouldn’t say. I read it once more before sending it off.
A short trip to a small town
On the weekend I went to a nearby small town and had the local breakfast. Brought back a few postcards and stuck them by the desk. A short trip, but a comfortable one.
2023 notes
First snow
The first snow fell very lightly, and the street was quiet. I stood at the window and watched for a long time.
The book corner
I repainted the old bookshelf and set out the books I reread often. Left one shelf empty on purpose. At night I’d turn on a small lamp and sit a while.
Seeing an old friend again
Old friends, long apart, gathered for a meal. Everyone had changed a little, but the laughter was still familiar. I felt warm as we parted.