Loneliness is becoming one of the quiet epidemics of our time. Here in Sydney - a vibrant, busy, outwardly connected city - many people still carry a private sense of disconnection. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 1 in 6 Australians aged 15 and over report often feeling lonely  (2023). Research from Ending Loneliness Together suggests that up to 1 in 3 Australians experience loneliness at some level . Loneliness is not simply about being alone. It is the feeling of...

(The last flower on the tree seemed to quietly embrace the rainy morning on her own) The sound of rustling tree branches in the wind, fallen foliage slowly returning to the soil or the way sunlight shifts as clouds pass overhead. Nothing stays the same. In those moments, we sense that this experience will never be repeated in exactly the same way. This quiet, bittersweet feeling is closely connected to a traditional Japanese aesthetic known as Mono no Aware (もののあわれ) . What Is Mono no Aware ?...

In Japan, Oshōgatsu (it means new year) is a time when families come together to welcome the New Year’s spirit (a deity associated with purification and renewal ) believed to bless people with good health, family continuity, and abundance, offering protection and nourishment throughout the year. To prepare for this special time, a traditional meal called Osechi ryōri is made at home. It consists of many beautifully arranged dishes, carefully packed into lacquered boxes. I remember my mother...