Morning on the Narita Express

I’m on the early morning Narita Express, heading to the airport. From there, I’m flying to Bali.

Outside, the weather is remarkably beautiful. No strong wind. The sky is clear. Not hot, not cold — just right.

What’s been happening these past month or two

The last month or two has brought wave after wave of change. A new environment. Shifting relationships. A reimagining of my life’s direction. A quiet reckoning with the question: how do I actually want to live?

My nerves had been wound tight

As my last day at work approached, I stopped being able to sleep. The day itself was full of noise and discomfort, and by the end I was completely drained. I must have been running on adrenaline — I barely slept for two days.

But yesterday, for the first time in a long while, I slept deeply.

Returning to a place where I feel safe

I think the two yoga classes made a real difference. The yoga studio with its view of the sea, my favorite Ashtanga teacher, that particular quality of stillness in the air — I felt my nervous system finally returning to somewhere it could rest.

The restlessness that had been with me for so long was, this morning, strangely quiet.

A morning with no waves

No ripples. Everything clear.

I don’t fully know what shifted. But maybe this is the calm that comes after surviving something big.

I feel grateful for today.

Watching myself this morning, I thought: it’s remarkable how much quieter a person’s nervous system becomes simply by changing their surroundings.

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This essay is also available in Japanese and Spanish.

日本語版はこちら

波立っていない朝｜退職日、成田へ向かう電車の中で―退職後の旅シリーズ

気候、空間、人間関係は人の神経にどう影響するのか。退職日から始まる、環境と人間を観察する思考ノート。

Versión en español:

Una mañana en el Narita Express

Tras meses de cambios, insomnio y agotamiento emocional, un viaje a Bali me hizo comprender cómo un cambio de entorno puede transformar profundamente el sistema nervioso.

At that moment, sitting on the Narita Express and watching the clear morning sky, I had no idea what the next few days would bring.

I didn’t know about the swifts circling above my hotel each morning.

I didn’t know about the woman from Sumatra I would meet by the sea.

I didn’t know about the Australian man in a blue T-shirt who would help me find the beach.

And I certainly didn’t know how peaceful I would feel.

My first days in Bali turned out to be exactly what I needed.

→ Read the next post: My First Trip After Leaving My Job: Finding Peace in Bali

My First Trip After Leaving My Job: Finding Peace in Bali

After leaving my job, I traveled to Bali, Indonesia. Warm sea air, morning swifts, unexpected encounters, and a rare sense of calm marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life.