Have you ever had a moment in life when you thought, “Ah, I feel alive again”? I have. On a cold winter day, after shoveling snow all day for work and feeling completely exhausted, I went to my favorite ramen shop for some miso ramen. Then I soaked in a nearby hot spring. It was the best. I felt refreshed and energized.

In Japanese, we say “生き返るikikaeru” when we regain our energy or feel refreshed. It expresses the feeling of recovering your energy—almost like coming back to life.

Sometimes we get really tired—whether it’s from work, parenting, or just not being able to keep up with the hot summers or cold winters. When that happens, what would you want to do? Eat your favorite food. Drink a special kind of alcohol. Visit a place you love. See someone you care about. Even eat a rice ball from the convenience store. It doesn’t have to be something big.

Let’s keep going—while taking breaks along the way.