Keeping it all in perspective

Every once in a while I have to remind myself that I am married.  Not for any nefarious reasons, of course, but I have to remember that while I am off having amazing adventures and wonderful new experiences, there is someone waiting for me at home.  Someone who misses me and doesn’t have the sights and sounds of a foreign land to distract them from their loneliness.

I am so lucky to have a partner that is willing to put my wants and needs ahead of his own.  Who is willing to place his trust in me and allow me to make my own decisions.  I cannot say I would be as generous and supportive if our roles were reversed.

One of the sayings I have really come to love in Japan is shoganai.  It basically means something can’t be helped.  When people ask me how my husband and I can be separated (they don’t quite understand the negative connotations of that word), I tell them shoganai.  The place we were living did not have the things both of us needed in this moment and it couldn’t be helped.  But it is more than that.  I needed to be somewhere else and I have a man who loves me enough to let me fly.

So, to my wonderful, amazing, and supportive husband, I love you.  Thank you for allowing me to chase my passion half way across the globe.  Thank you for recognizing and respecting my wanderlust and not trying to hold me too tight.  This has been hardest on you.  I won’t be home for a little while yet, but believe me I am looking forward to that day.  I love you.