生きがい(ikigai) roughly translates to "meaning of life" or "reason to live".  
     This isolation has been painful, we feel that our connections are drifting apart, and our safety and health are still at risk. I am very lucky to have friends who are caring, and who check in on me when I'm struggling.    
     The majority of these photos, taken on a mix of phones and cameras, were from a road trip I took with family and friends in 2020. The trip was enjoyable and memorable, I felt closer to them and my mental health greatly improved afterword. They gave me a sense of ikigai. My mood is lighted looking at them.