A Quiet Beginning for the Year of the Horse

The Year of the Horse is often associated with speed, momentum, and drive. It’s a year that asks us to move forward boldly.

But before movement, there is grounding.

Being served a bowl of Jyoraku Matcha by my mentor was a reminder that strength doesn’t come from rushing — it comes from learning how to receive, how to wait, and how to listen.

In Japanese wisdom, there’s a saying:

急がば回れ — when in a hurry, go the long way around.

This is how I hope to move through the year ahead — with energy guided by patience, ambition shaped by care, and progress rooted in presence.