“When I first heard about the earthquake, it was almost impossible for me to believe. Of course my first action was to try and contact my loved ones. Although my family and most of my friends were okay, some relatives and friends in Tokyo had been affected. I was beside myself with anxiety and the inability to help them. All the sad images on TV and the Internet were really shocking, and I could not fall asleep for about a week.”

“However, it’s not all about sad things, it’s also about bright hopes. It is admirable that the people of the stricken area have remained so calm and encouraging to each other. My heart overflowed with gratitude, and it made me feel really proud to be Japanese.”

“I realize now that taking on the pain of the world does not heal the suffering. It only activates the part of us that identifies with that vibration. The events in Japan were not created for pain, they were for our forgiving, resurrection, and awakening. Although the tsunami took everything, people’s hopes were not taken. When we allow ourselves to identify with loving thoughts, we are offering ourselves a gift of healing and transformation on a profound level. So, I stopped worrying too much, and started peaceful-mind thinking about how I can really help.”

“I believe that we are all connected. That’s why it hurts when things happen to those we care about, and even to strangers affected by giant shocks in the world, like the recent events in Japan. So many people focus on the pain... but I still see and feel the light. We should see the dark days as offerings of hope, of new beginnings and transformation that may not have been possible by any other means. I believe that everything has its meaning and even this tragic disaster can help us to grow and become wiser and softer. Life and love are so amazing, I am happy to be part of that.”