Man. I’m not really much of a “host,” kind of guy, I guess.

I love hanging out and shooting the shit, and really love showing people my city and the culture here in Japan. That said, the introvert in me can tire out pretty quickly.

That’s something I’m working on. Holding my own energy and not tiring out too quickly by trying to make “small talk,” appease everyone, or fill every second with activity. Quite often these perceived “expectations” of others are simply fabrications of my own mind.

The family and I are busy cleaning the house and getting everything ready. Our new house has ample space to host friends and family, and we’re excited to break it in.

This has also been a good kick in the ass for me to get a little more organized, whereas usually things around our place are a bit messy. Think: two just-starting-out entrepreneurs trying to start their own businesses, whilst fighting through episodic depression/mood swings, one highly energized 5-year-old in need of much attention, bills to pay, a garden to keep, etc, etc.

Perhaps that description makes things sound bleaker than they are. Not complaining at all. I’ve actually never felt happier, or freer, in my life. It’s all a journey. A process of self-discovery, and, most importantly, recognizing and integrating that Jungian “shadow,” to the end of a more joyful, fruitful, and peaceful existence.

What the hell does this have to do with hosting anyone. Well, nearly everything, I suppose. So often the thing that tires folks out about hosting others is the fact that they feel they cannot “be themselves.” I cannot go down that road this time around. It’s me, for better or for worse.

My friends that are coming are a seem to be a Trump supporter and a pretty liberal-oriented dude. I don’t really know yet, though. So yeah. My parents are both “conservative” Republicans. My mother is uncomfortable about coarse language. I swear like a sailor these days, and it does me good. It’s my little daily therapy. I am a full-blown Voluntaryist anarchist. We seem to have an interesting cocktail of elements brewing...

I imagine there will be some heated debates. That said, the whole reason I am looking forward to these unique and inimitable individuals coming to my home is because I love ‘em, and wish to share my energy and my power as I choose, and to connect on a human level. They’ve given me the priceless gift of being in my life as contemporaries on the journey. They care. Beyond any labels, this is what it is all about. This means something very important to me.

And of course I’m gonna set ‘em straight (through respectful discourse, of course) on all that statist bullshit.

We’ll see ;)

~KafkA

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Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DLive and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)