Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

Here in Japan as the year 2016 approaches, I see people rushing about at a frenetic pace, as they try to “get everything cleaned, wrapped up, and closed out” at year’s end. This is a far cry from the end of the year in the United States (the country I was born in), where New Year’s is a time to celebrate and make resolutions for the upcoming new year.

For me, the “live and let live” approach to life helps me during this time of year. Being in Japan close to 50% of the time, I have learned to incorporate the Japanese way of doing things with the American way. In addition, my exposure to various other cultures adds sprinkles of additional lifestyle techniques to my way of living my life.

As the Japanese people around me scurry about (even FASTER then they usually do!) during the final two weeks each December, I have learned to make it a point to “get out of their way” so that I do not impede their progress toward closing out the year. I find that this calls for a great deal of quickness and anticipation on my part – but it works. I get in no one’s way, while at the same time relishing the relaxing feeling I derive by skirting the chaos of the last fortnight of each year I spend in Japan.

Indeed, this “skirting the beehive of activity” everywhere around me puts me in somewhat of a “5th dimension” (beyond length, width, height, and time) – a dimension of calm. This calmness affords me a peace of mind as I carefully phase out the unwanted, retain that which I wish to keep, and take on a new set of goals for the new year!

The goals I have for 2016 are but a refinement of the ones I had this year (to save Earth, to save the African elephant, to protect nature, to save Seneca, to support the Falkland Islands, to spread The Jingles, to protect all languages, to use new technologies intelligently, to express my feelings and philosophy, to be considerate to all living things).

May God grant me the strength I need – and may all who hear or see my words at least give them a bit of thought and consideration!

Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.