“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable,” said the Stoic philosopher Seneca.

It’s important to follow what naturally grips us, like the sound of a crackling fire in the cold.

“Be reverent of the things you find fascinating and enthralling,” writes John Soforic in The Wealthy Gardener.

This will tell us where we’re meant to go. We must adhere to our inclinations with the entirety of our spirit.

But also perhaps, it’s necessary to let go, and cherish where the winds take us. Seneca’s eternal words are often read in the contrary:

If a man knows not to which port he sails, all winds are favorable.

Enjoy your time in the open sea… Seek meaning in the drifting, the storm, as well as from the clear blue sky.

All you must do is set sail. Embrace the unknown. This takes the most courage of all.

I’m in Kakogawa, a seaside town further along the coast past Kobe. I was sent here to work at a school today, an hour and a half train ride from Osaka.

I rode along the coast and when I arrived on the train it was pouring rain, sideways and with strength.

The rain’s stopped and golden sunlight shines through the moody afternoon clouds. It’s cold and fresh and lovely.

What am I doing here?

Nothing more than cherishing the ride.

Be present. Are you in open sea? Observe where you are. If you don’t like it, change it. But first, be there. There’s beauty where you least expect it.