How has it been a year since I went to Tokyo?
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
Today marks one year since I departed from Gatwick airport, tears streaming down my face as if I were being sent away to war against my will. This of course was not the case. I was instead voluntarily journeying to the faraway land of Tokyo, Japan to internationally model for 3 months. I mean it sounds amazing… and yet I was somehow distraught at the thought of leaving my family.
As you can imagine as a freshly eighteen year old girl it was quite scary, but I will admit, a year later that I do think I was slightly dramatic with how anxious I was! Because it became the best thing I’ve ever done and I miss it every single day, seriously just thinking about it now makes me want to tear up.
That is the main reason why I’m so unable to comprehend that it’s been a year since I began that experience because in my head it's still as fresh as ever.
If I close my eyes tight enough I can still feel the cold breeze of Meguro, the bustle and chaos of Shibuya late at night, the wail of sirens driving past my apartment, and I can still smell the smoke that shadowed every model. I hope these memories stay with me for a lifetime because I would be half the person I am now without them.
It baffles me how quickly time is moving! I always feel like I sound millennial when I say that because my mum always told me, “as you get older time moves faster so cherish the time you are in now.” Little did I know she was correct it seems because how have I gone from being sixteen years old to turning twenty this year. That makes me want to scream.
How is it that something just twelve months ago can feel so far away, yet also so recent! I feel both at the same time, I was literally just there in my apartment with my cup of tea and a distant view of Mount Fuji. How was that so long ago?
But equally how was it only a year ago? Because on the other hand I’ve somehow fitted in an entire life change, months of travelling, two internships and founded this lovely blog (which I cannot wait to develop this year may I add!) into this space of only nine months since I got home from Japan.
So how can it feel so close, yet also so far? I think it’s got a lot to do with the current state of society.
School, Work, Sleep, Work, Sleep, Work, Sleep, Work - HOW BORING!
We should be frolicking around fields and living vicariously because we are so young and have so much time … or do we? We all could die tomorrow and with what? If my last day on earth was spent in an office I’d be severely pissed off in the afterlife.
So get out there when/ if you can because I’m slightly worried the rest of my life will hurry by with the same supersonic speed, but If it does at-least I will have lived. You live and you learn, and I’m planning on doing everything in my power to ensure that however fast or slow it feels it is documented.
One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to commit to documenting my life because I want to be eighty years old and be able to rewatch my youtube videos of my life! I vowed to document through any means available, I’ll journal, sketch, write poetry, design, sew, paint, video diary, vlog … the list goes on and on.
I want nothing more than to look back and think, “Wow. I really lived.” And so far I’m proud of where I’ve got with that. Hope you are too.
And if you haven’t already seen the updated additions to the website… treat yourself and have a look. We are now accepting poetry submissions. If you have a brain and want to write, this is the place for you, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
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Happy new year to all! Big things are coming.
With love,
Mimi x
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