Recently, I met up with an old friend from my rugby days in Tokushima. He was our captain back then during university, and it was wonderful to reconnect after so many years.

We shared plenty of stories from those days, laughed about old memories and talked about where life has taken us. Today, he works at one of Japan’s major aviation companies, so neither of us is unfamiliar with the demands of work. Naturally, our conversation turned to the importance of maintaining balance and making time for things outside of work.

Living in Tokushima, he spoke about how being close to nature has helped him maintain a sense of balance, and together we visited the first five temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage route known as Shikoku Henro.

It was a refreshing experience and a reminder that taking time to slow down and reconnect with old friends can be just as important as looking ahead to the next challenge.

Seeing him build a full and grounded life—one where work is just one part of a bigger picture was genuinely inspiring. As our family prepares to establish a second home base in New Zealand next year, this is exactly the kind of balance we are looking forward to. A life closer to nature, more space to breathe and the chance to build something meaningful beyond the demands of a career.

He reminded me that it is never too early to start thinking about who you want to be, not just what you want to achieve.

Some friendships may go many years without meeting, but picking up right where you left off is always something special.