I liked this book a lot. Want an example of how to combine personal experiences with research? Read this one.

I was churning on several quotes. I’ll start with this one:

Kuyo even inflects the way we speak. In Japan it is unthinkable to begin a meal without saying “itadakimasu” — a word that means “humbly receiving with gratitude,” but note the lack of a specific subject. We are receiving the food from whomever prepared it, but also from whoever cultivated it, and finally whatever sacrificed itself so that we could have it. “Itadakimasu” reminds us of the invisible web of relationships upon which we rely to live.”

…

Shrine dancing made me realize that the person driving myself into that corner wasn’t really a monster, but me. Our own hopes and desires fuel our fears and anxieties. Like Susanolo, all of us are double-edged swords. The one telling me you aren’t good enough was me. Such a simple phrase, yet with such power to thwart and bind, almost like a magical spell. It made me start wondering how many times I’d sabotaged myself with it, how many opportunities I’d missed.

…

There’s a famous quote that sometimes doing your best isn’t good enough. But my my dance at the shrine taught me that isn’t right at all. Doing your best is good enough — and whatever happens beyond that is in kami territory. Once you’ve done your best to prepare, there’s no good or bad, pass or fail. There’s just doing — meaning that whatever happens will be a new experience, and experiences, both positive and negative, are the real currency of our lives.

Yoda, Hiroko. Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan. Tiny Reparations Books, 2025.