To See. To Seek. To Observe.

Written and narrated by Kaylin Xie.

美 (び・bi): to see the beauty in the world

The sound of my heels as the parking garage echoes my steps. The stillness of the office as the lights wake from their night slumber. The joy of matching outfits with coworkers.

These are the moments of beauty I did not recognize prior to joining JACCC.

As a student who recently moved to Los Angeles, life was a whirlwind. Moving away, finding my circles, and adjusting to a new lifestyle has been an overwhelming experience. On top of these changes are the constant pressure of climbing the corporate ladder.

Always looking for the next opportunity.

Next goal.

Next internship.

Looking, looking, looking

but

I

wasn’t

really

seeing.

I was in a constant rush.

Luckily, I landed as an intern at JACCC. As a Chinese-American, I came into this organization blind, unaware of how deeply the values of Japanese culture run through everyday life.

Instead of observing around me, I focused on

Criticism. 

Doubt. 

Imperfections. 

I stuck to what I knew. 

I lived in comfort. 

I strayed away from new challenges. 

Because I sought errors in myself, I did not notice the little charms around me.

Bi has opened my eyes. 

To appreciate the stillness of life.

To ground myself in the present.

To 

     slow 

            down 

                    and observe.

I often feel overwhelmed with the endless possibilities. Always moving from project to project…

Bi has taught me to be present and look for the beauty surrounding me. 

To listen to the music of my heels in the morning.

To embrace the comforting hug of the office air as it wraps around my skin.

To feel the squeal ignite in my heart when I match with others.

These small pockets of joy make me appreciate the world and see how beautiful these moments are. 

Bi is…

To see. 

To seek. 

To observe.