On an ordinary day, a small gesture—a train horn in response to a child’s wave—becomes an unforgettable kizuki. In this tender reflection, Mae revisits a story her father once shared, and pairs it with a real-life letter from a Tokyo train driver. Through both perspectives, this episode explores the quiet power of small moments, unseen gratitude, and the profound connections we often overlook.

Mae Yoshikawa

Mae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling MAE Y method™, a powerful tool for self-awareness and transformation. A pioneer in wellness and personal development, Mae was the first Japanese woman authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2006. Her work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, shaped by profound life experiences—including the loss of her mother, the sudden passing of her husband, and her ongoing journey as a mother to two sons. Mae’s upcoming books share her path of healing and becoming, and her online community, MAE Y, continues to support a growing circle of those on their path of inner growth. She has served as a global ambassador for adidas since 2015.

Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.com

Personal Website: https://maey.live/

Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this quiet yet piercing episode, Mae explores how our social selves, shaped by culture and conditioning, often lead us to adjust, strive, and “be good”—at the cost of being real. Drawing on Cory Muscara’s insight and Martha Beck’s concept of the essential self, Mae unpacks how performance—even in spiritual practice—can subtly sabotage our presence. What remains when we let all that go?

Mae Yoshikawa

Mae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling MAE Y method™, a powerful tool for self-awareness and transformation. A pioneer in wellness and personal development, Mae was the first Japanese woman authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2006. Her work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, shaped by profound life experiences—including the loss of her mother, the sudden passing of her husband, and her ongoing journey as a mother to two sons. Mae’s upcoming books share her path of healing and becoming, and her online community, MAE Y, continues to support a growing circle of those on their path of inner growth. She has served as a global ambassador for adidas since 2015.

Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.com

Personal Website: https://maey.live/

Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa

In this follow-up to The Slow Death of the Do-er, Mae explores what it truly feels like to “just observe” when fear arises. She reveals how real surrender isn’t about silencing fear, but meeting it with gentle awareness—kizuki. This honest reflection offers a step-by-step glimpse into moving from fear-based doing to soul-aligned flow.

Mae Yoshikawa

Mae Yoshikawa is the creator of the Kizuki Journaling MAE Y method™, a powerful tool for self-awareness and transformation. A pioneer in wellness and personal development, Mae was the first Japanese woman authorized by the founding school of Ashtanga Yoga in India in 2006. Her work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, shaped by profound life experiences—including the loss of her mother, the sudden passing of her husband, and her ongoing journey as a mother to two sons. Mae’s upcoming books share her path of healing and becoming, and her online community, MAE Y, continues to support a growing circle of those on their path of inner growth. She has served as a global ambassador for adidas since 2015.

Kizuki Journaling Website: KizukiJournaling.com

Personal Website: https://maey.live/

Instagram: ⁠@maeyoshikawa