I love to travel. I love to experience new places, cultures, and foods. One thing I love most about traveling is the things I learn and take home with me.

We have just returned from a magical trip to Japan. It is a beautiful country. We loved the helpfulness of strangers, the transit system, the fun nightlife, how they honor and preserve their history, and, of course, the food. I came home with so many lessons that I want to try and implement into my life.

First, Japan’s pace is slow. This doesn’t apply to its high-speed trains or how far into the future it seems to be living but to its approach to life. Japan seems to really take life in and enjoy each moment. There isn’t a sense of hurrying up to the next thing. The moment you are in is the moment.

Second, and this one hit home hard because of being American, they honor the “we.” The question asked automatically is what is best for us, not what is best for me. From systems in place to accommodate people with disabilities to lining up for the train, you felt this mentality everywhere. The vibe of being in a community that wants what is best for everyone was startling, and I loved it.

Third, and I promise this is something Japan taught me; I want to shoot more black and white film. I came home with seven rolls of film- six colors and one black and white. Guess which is my favorite? I loved all the colors of Japan and I didn’t expect to love my black and white roll so much, but I do. Then I remembered this post. Every time I shoot a roll of black and white, I don’t regret it—even the cherry blossoms were pretty in black and white.

I bought a few rolls of black and white, and I am going to try and shoot them more frequently. I am also not in a hurry to do it.

Staci Lee