Tomorrow might be my last chance for a home - cooked meal until next year. Going on the road, starting Tuesday and ending Jan 4, so this holiday will be the farthest away from any semblance of family since who knows when. This is all part of the path, the discipline. No big deal. Just something I've been blessed enough to receive. The only thing I can do is stay healthy, continue to study and make technical and spiritual progress in the lonely days to come. Just to relax and keep a positive attitude throughout. And in comparing my state of mind this year to last year, I can't feel anything but optimistic, because although this year has been a grueling schedule, my progress, even though it has not come at the expected pace, has been spectacular. Last year around this time I was seriously preparing for leaving Japan forever and moving back to America. What a mistake that would have been. The simple clean life I was longing for is just not there anymore...at least not at the same price. Life has become much more cold, complicated and expensive in America and there is as yet no support base for me. I don't want to be famous, just successful. In 2010 things will all change for the better. The groundwork is laid and the foundation is being built and tested at every stage of development. The need for friends and allies is still there, but they are coming out slowly but surely...as long as I continue to do my part and keep evolving, learning, patiently accepting the things I can't change and changing the things I can, with passion and compassion. Blessings to all for the new year. Peace Light and Growth, and most of all hope for positive change and wisdom and success.