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"If not now, when?"

My first solo trip to Japan.

It’s November 2024.

I’m 22 years old.

And I want to go to Japan.

For some reason my mind was convinced. If there was anywhere in the world I could go it was Japan. Specifically, Tokyo. And I wanted to go alone.

Out of all the places in the world, why Japan?

Well, off the top of my head..

Mount Fuji was on my bucket list
Tokyo is a photographer / videographer’s dream
I’d never been to Asia before
The food
It was one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite places on Earth…

And to be honest, this quote from Anthony Bourdain, although short and simple as can be, is what nailed the coffin: “Tokyo at Night. Glad to be alive and seeing this.”

Some people may think that’s a silly reason to go all the way to Asia.

But for me, it made complete sense. “Tokyo at Night. Glad to be alive and seeing this.”

While you are alive, do it now. Go now. Do not wait. As simple as that.

But my mom would ask me, “well, why do you have to go right now?”

Well mom, because if not now, when?

I’m alive and I’m going to go see and experience Tokyo with my own eyes and body.

And I’m not going to wait for anybody, either. I’m going.

I’m going to see Mount Fuji.

I’m going to walk the streets of Tokyo…at night :)

I’m going to stand at Sensoji temple. With my own feet.

I’m going to meditate with a monk.

I’m going to sing karaoke with strangers I met that day at a dive bar at 3am.

I’m going solo backpacking in Asia, something I’d always wanted to do.

I’m going to try everything at the famous 7/11s.

I’m going to wander.

I’m going to play football (soccer) with a young boy and his dad at the park.

I’m going to go without knowing a single lick of Japanese (besides Aragato.. Thanks Kill Bill)

I’m going to make friends with locals (yes, without knowing any Japanese… I’ve learned that it doesn’t take spoken words to build a connection.. Just a smile)

I’m going to learn humility by entering the unknown.

I’m going to stand on the earth.

Breathe in the air. And know that I’m here.

Alive. Right now. In Japan.

You never know when the unexpected is going to happen.

If you have the means, the physical health, the drive to experience something in the present moment, I think there is no time to waste.

Life is unexpected.

One thing I got often was, “Japan?!”

Like it is some other world, an impossible world to get to.

And my response: “Yeah, it was either that or the Taj Mahal in India, or Bangkok, or Vietnam, or Morocco. I just chose Tokyo.”

When people hear places like that, they’re almost in complete shock.

“You’re going there by YOURSELF?”

Yes.

“Oh you must know someone there?”

Nope. Not one person.

These places aren’t too far-fetched. Your mind has just convinced you that it’s atypical, out of reach, too crazy.

My mind says, a cool challenge, let’s go.

I bought a one-way ticket, the cheapest one I could find online, and slept in a room with 30 other people (mostly men) at a hostel and brought nothing but a backpack for a 2-week trip.

Sleep on the floor if you have to!

And I get that we are all wired differently.

Some people like to sip Mai-Thai’s at a resort in Mexico.

I like to sleep with my backpack in a cubby.

And I’m not here to claim one is better than the other, we’re all just different beings with different definitions of pleasure, excitement and travel.

This“If not now, when” mindset doesn’t just apply to travel.

But there’s just something about travel that does it for me.

Before any flight or trip, it’s always this same pit in my stomach.

Whether it’s a family vacation or a solo trip to the other side of the world, it’s the same feeling, this pit.

And it’s hard to describe.

It’s like 25% anxiety, 25% longing and desire and 50% excitement.

But most of all I’d call it pre-thrill.

Nothing thrills me as much as this, experiencing new things in new places.

But as I was saying, this “If not now, when” mindset doesn’t just apply to travel.

In actuality, I think it can be applied to almost any aspect of your life.

Your career. Your relationships. Your everyday decisions.

And even when it’s scary, there is no time to waste.

The cold water doesn’t get any warmer the longer you wait to jump.

So jump. With both feet.

And you know, the more I’ve experienced and really “jumped” into things in this life, the less scary the next jump becomes. It’s like “well, I’ve done ___, so now this is a piece of cake”

It’s like the more you do, especially the scarier stuff, the more ready you are to tackle the next challenge. The next city, the next career decision, the next jump into cold water. Suddenly, the water isn’t so cold anymore.

A lot of people just keep waiting for the “right time” to jump. The “right time” to move cities, take a risk, change careers, etc.

Yes, you could go once you’re financially stable. Or once your friends can join you.

Or with your romantic partner. But what if those days never come? Or once they do, you’re already in a position where this opportunity now doesn’t exist?

Because, really, having those things doesn’t make it the “right time”

Because there is no such thing as the “right time”.

Just time. And what you do with it.

You see, life is a vast, glowing empty page.

And you get to fill it however you want.

It’s entirely up to you.

So when I see my empty page, I fill it.

With as many experiences as I can.

With beautiful human connections.

With breathtaking sights.

With unknown territories.

Land, I have not yet set foot on.