I’m sharing something personal, a reflection on my time spent back in my hometown over the last two weeks.

You see, when I was a teenager, I couldn’t wait to leave my hometown. It's a small, rural place with very few forms of entertainment—no movie theaters, no amusement parks, not even a big shopping complex. I saw it as a place without opportunity, without excitement, and honestly, without much of a future for me. I had dreams, and this little town didn’t seem to fit with those dreams at all. I wanted to see myself in a bigger world, one filled with possibilities.

So, I made it out. I went to university near Tokyo, 10 hours away by car. That felt like the real start of my dreams. Every time I came back home during the holidays, I couldn’t help but feel lucky that I had escaped. My friends and family, still living in what I thought was a boring town, seemed stuck in their lives. And while I didn’t look down on them exactly, I was sorry for them in a way, as if they were missing out on the kind of life I was now living. I felt I had so many more options for my future, more excitement in my career and life path.

But something shifted this time when I came back, now visiting from Canada. It’s hard to explain, but I’ve come to appreciate my hometown in ways I never did before.

I started noticing the little things that make this place feel secure and comforting—things I didn’t realize I would value. Like, the grocery stores have sliced meat at such reasonable prices. And if I need to see a doctor, I don’t have to wait weeks to get an appointment. Even though I might have to wait an hour, I can still see a doctor, and I don’t even need it to be my family doctor. That’s something I don’t get in Canada.

I’ve also come to appreciate how easy and stress-free it is to communicate with people here. There’s no fear or anxiety about how I’m going to express myself. And speaking of fear, I don’t see people on the streets struggling with addiction, and I can buy affordable clothes within a 30-minute drive. These things make life here feel so… convenient, and secure in a way that I didn’t really notice before.

But beyond the practical things, I’ve realized that being in a rural town doesn’t make life any less valuable or comfortable. I used to think that the place you live determines how successful or fulfilled you are. But now I see that I can feel secure, hopeful, and comfortable even in this small town. It’s more about how I feel internally than where I am.

And believe me, living with my parents again is still stressful at times. Their personalities, their attitudes toward me, they haven’t really changed since I was young. Back then, I was so eager to be independent, to be free from their influence. But now, I’m more patient with them. Even though I sometimes need a break from them, I’m better at handling it.

One other thing that’s surprised me: I actually feel more comfortable speaking English here than I do in Canada. When I speak English here, people treat me like I’m special, talented, even though I know it’s not talent—it’s effort. But their admiration makes me feel proud of myself, and that’s something I didn’t expect.

So, here I am, no longer feeling sorry for the people living in this town. Instead, I see that I could live here, just like them, and still have hope. I could accomplish anything from here if I wanted to. But the funny thing is, I’m also okay with not accomplishing anything at all.

I don’t know if this feeling comes from mental growth, or if it’s some form of accepting life as it is. Maybe it’s both. But I’m okay with it. I’m okay with this peace.

So, that’s where I am right now. Thank you for listening to this personal reflection. I’d love to hear from you—have you ever had a similar shift in perspective about your hometown or a place you once felt disconnected from? Let me know your thoughts.