Faith

Dec

2019

Family and Friends: Faith and Gratitude

We often say happy holidays. The word “holiday” implies a vacation. In fact, we are not celebrating time off, but holy days for many people. Why do we not simply say happy holy days? Commercialization has replaced the true meaning of the holy days of Christmas and Hanukkah. The gift of a God has been replaced by the gift of goods. Happiness is fleeting. The flesh constantly wants more to be happy. If I buy more or indulge more in pleasure I will be happy. Happiness is therefore contingent upon fueling and refueling fleshly desires. Holiness, however, is not about satisfying the flesh but about satisfying our spirit. The spirit that leads to greater peace and love. We can find no true comfort nor rest without it. May we fuel our spirits through prayer and acts of charity this holy season, remember our friends and family, but also those less fortunate than us. Have faith in the coming year and say thanks for all the countless blessings and miracles you and I have enjoyed this year.

Sep

2019

Memoir Out 10/15/2019 Available for Pre-Order

It was a long time coming, but my memoir comes out on 10/15/2019. It is available for pre-order via Target, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online outlets. I will also be featuring it soon via my website.

For now, you can find it here via Amazon, here via Target, and here via Barnes and Noble:

“In this book the reader is offered the unique opportunity to explore not only the mind but also the heart of a Japanese-American diplomat who “dares” to be proud of his dual heritage. In an age where “diversity” is touted as an important value to uphold, reality does not always live up to the struggles and aspirations of men and women whose very DNA is multicultural and multilingual. Ken Reiman’s passionately told and deeply personal story will inspire all those for whom “duality” is an integral part of who they are, not only as citizens but also as human beings. Society can only benefit from heeding his call to celebrate and utilize such rich human experiences for the good of others—and ultimately, for the creation of a better world—together.”

M. Antoni J. Ucerler, S.J., D.Phil.

Associate Professor of East Asian Studies &

Director, Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History

University of San Francisco

Jul

2019

Bless You

God bless America. God bless Japan. God bless you!

Jul

2019

Run Your Own Race

It’s not your job to tell yourself no. It’s not your job to reject yourself or grade yourself or debate the value or worthiness of your ideas. Your job is to create. Your job is to share. Your job is to overcome fear and run the race. Yes, if you build something people might judge it or dislike it. But if you don’t create and share the things that you have inside of you, then you’ll commit the far worse crime of rejecting yourself. You can either be judged because you created something or ignored because you left your greatness inside of you.

– James Clear

Jul

2019

What do kids of Diplomats do When stuck?

Someone asked me this question recently: what do kids of diplomats do when stuck? Answer: same thing as what their parents frequently do: they ask for help!

Jul

2019

Your Dreams Matter

Don’t spend your life chasing someone else’s dreams. Go after yours!

Jul

2019

Happiness is Your Choice

Feb

2019

A Monk’s Advice

I visited a Buddhist monk in Japan in-between his prayer and teaching sessions. I asked him, “how do you practice your faith?” He said first, do not have expectations. When you expect people to receive you a certain way or respond to you positively or negatively, you set yourself up for failure. Placing expectations on yourself and on others leads to self-imposed, needless suffering. Second, say “thank you” in all situations, including in the day-to-day mundane activities you take for granted. A warm cup of tea, a chair, hearing a bird sing, a child’s laughter, be grateful for each moment. He ended by stating, life is about killing time until you reach your next destination, the afterlife: 人生は冥土までの暇潰し. Put another way life is about penance before reaching heaven: 人生は天国までの苦行.