{"id":1059,"date":"2021-03-13T17:28:08","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T22:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/?p=1059"},"modified":"2021-03-14T09:54:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-14T13:54:33","slug":"edition-10-from-a-devastating-tragedy-to-a-transcending-human-uplift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/edition-10-from-a-devastating-tragedy-to-a-transcending-human-uplift\/","title":{"rendered":"Edition #10 <br> From a Devastating Tragedy to a Transcending Human Uplift"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1059\" class=\"elementor elementor-1059\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c4520a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c4520a4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d85e433\" data-id=\"d85e433\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-553c3d27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"553c3d27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1061\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c139891 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c139891\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9026384 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9026384\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Edition #10 <br> From a Devastating Tragedy to a Transcending Human Uplift<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78f41ee0 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"78f41ee0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-8d55559 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>13\/03\/2021<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-185a8aae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"185a8aae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are moments in life that will forever be imprinted in your heart and spirit, may they be horrible or magnificent. But rarely can one simultaneously convey a profound transformative and empowering dimension as the devastating tragedy that happened on March 11, 2011, on Japan\u2019s Northeast coast did for me.<\/p><p>I still vividly remember the terrible scene, in an almost frame-by-frame silent movie reel, a nightmare-like souvenir I know will keep on being played over and over in my soul for the rest of my life, a disaster that would end up becoming a pivotal point in the way I would see hope and faith in the midst of unbearable mourning grief.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23256ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"23256ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197141_328253199974_5610346_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1080\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197141_328253199974_5610346_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197141_328253199974_5610346_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b009e62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6b009e62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Toronto, March 11, 1am<\/p><p>We had just arrived in our hotel in Toronto after the first of 3 concerts we were scheduled to play over the course of the weekend during the Canadian Music Week. The atmosphere was cheerful and everyone was pretty upbeat. The Canadian Music Week had invited my band, Your Favorite Enemies, as a featured artist and we had a whole get-together weekend organized for the occasion. We had people from all over the world joining us, we were about to release the deluxe edition of &#8220;Love Is A Promise Whispering Goodbye\u201d internationally, we had an Asian tour coming up, and had all sorts of other incredible news to share. After years of inner struggles, it felt like we finally had our issues settled and were able to sustainably focus on the band\u2019s uprising trajectory for the first time in a long time. And it was paying off! We had the necessary momentum to take off and that weekend was the starting point to that very positive motion! It was imperative for us to commune that joyful new season with our loved ones.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cda39fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cda39fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/196403_328253574974_4432429_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1112\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/196403_328253574974_4432429_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/196403_328253574974_4432429_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65263d9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65263d9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We were probably 15 in a 3-room hotel suite. We were totally broke but had managed to collect points to exchange for a hotel stay &#8211; just barely enough to rent what we needed. We figured that since the hotel was a large one, the 15 of us (way over capacity) wouldn\u2019t have any problem coming in and out yet staying unnoticed by the hotel lobby staff. Everyone did manage to sneak in. It took forever to set up, but we had a place to stay for the few days we were in Toronto. The initial plan was that 2 of us would go down to the lobby in the morning, have breakfast, and use what was there to make sandwiches for the others. The alternative? It just had to work. We didn\u2019t have one. But we were used to it, and we were laughing it off as we were sharing all sorts of tour stories while looking over the details for that weekend in Toronto. It was all fun and games until we turned the TV on and watched the news. Party was over. Immediately.<\/p><p>I remember Jeff getting into the room only to find me, livid and crying, in front of the images that were playing non-stop, repeating the disaster in an endless loop. Jeff sat beside me, silent. We were stunned. We couldn\u2019t believe it. We were both paralyzed. Until I heard Momoka and Kosho, 2 of our friends from Japan, about to get into the room. I stood up, dried my tears, and walked towards them. Needless to say, they were confused by the change in my attitude. I took them both into another section of the suite, and I tried to calmly explain what was going on, without losing my shit myself. Thinking back, I don\u2019t think they understood what I was talking about\u2026. I asked them to come with me and went back to the room where the TV was.<\/p><p>Kosho fell to his knees, while Momoka fell in my arms. At that point, the 15 of us were in the room, and we all were in a state of shock, crying and terrified by every new video and testimony that was broadcasted. We were particularly concerned as several friends from Japan were set to arrive in only a few hours. They were unaware of the ongoing horror. Jeff and I discussed it\u2026 Should we go to the airport and wait for our friends? Should we use our social media platforms to connect people together? Should we cancel the whole weekend altogether? Everything was on the table and we couldn\u2019t care less about the band and whatever was set and organized around it. It was about family. So we got online to chat with our friends right away. No one slept that night.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23571d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"23571d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/205185_329654414974_7798854_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1116\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/205185_329654414974_7798854_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/205185_329654414974_7798854_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e441ed9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e441ed9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We converged at the Starbucks at 6 am, exchanged the gift cards my mom had given me for coffees and spent most of the day there. We let our friends use our band\u2019s MySpace account to relay information and transmit messages between people. The concert cancellation was already a given for Jeff and me. Until we realized that everyone kept on asking us to play for Japan\u2019s hope that night. How could we do that? We were all in some emotional disarray and it felt so inappropriate to go on stage at that point. Until Kosho and Momoka insisted that we do it and explained why it was so important for everyone that our weekend would happen. We agreed, but I was totally against that perspective. I didn\u2019t want to be disrespectful, I was devastated by what was happening, and I believed I would be way more helpful to keep on connecting people than sing and jump that night\u2026 But it looks like I was wrong.<\/p><p>Jeff and I talked with the multi-media crew that came for the weekend. We asked them if it was possible to broadcast the concert on our MySpace page as we had done in the past. We didn\u2019t have the proper equipment to do so until one of our friends took her credit card and said she would pay for whatever may be necessary to make it happen. The team started to go from music renting places to another, trying to find what we needed in the middle of a full-blown music festival happening all over the city. It was like trying to find a needle in the haystack, but they finally did, thanks to a last minute cancellation. So we had the gear. Now it was a matter of setting everything up. We had 2 gigs that night, one at 9 pm and the other one at 2 am. We rushed to the first place to try and make it happen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9933363 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9933363\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207730_328479654974_2135135_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1090\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207730_328479654974_2135135_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207730_328479654974_2135135_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-67138fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67138fd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-79db565\" data-id=\"79db565\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-817018c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"817018c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198597_328479249974_5199230_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1094\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198597_328479249974_5199230_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198597_328479249974_5199230_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0eed922\" data-id=\"0eed922\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71baed3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"71baed3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197616_328479044974_7055923_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1098\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197616_328479044974_7055923_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197616_328479044974_7055923_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2966a3d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2966a3d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My friend Tomoaki had a special gift for me, it was a big Japanese flag, which I decided to tie to my microphone stand, where it remains to this day with the French one I added following the Bataclan\u2019s barbaric event. So we played the concert, broadcasted it live, I addressed my indefectible support and empathy, and we kept the weekend going as I promised. And even if I didn\u2019t understand at first, it was indeed important for them, as I would learn later that it was a statement of life against the spirit of death and hopelessness that had the power to do far worse than what we were witnessing. Without that hope, a friend told me, we wouldn\u2019t have the faith nor the courage to stand into the storm, to look for survivors, to protect the weak, to comfort those who have lost more than they believed they had, nor have the resilience to mourn and rebuild. I will never forget that conversation, as it had a tremendous impact on me.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ede03ec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ede03ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197271_328479919974_1385241_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1120\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197271_328479919974_1385241_n.jpg 480w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/197271_328479919974_1385241_n-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a9cdb21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a9cdb21\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-933721e\" data-id=\"933721e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-925222d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"925222d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198167_328480299974_3970160_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1124\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198167_328480299974_3970160_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/198167_328480299974_3970160_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1b8f99\" data-id=\"f1b8f99\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8b6f6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a8b6f6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207376_328480254974_7325489_n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1128\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207376_328480254974_7325489_n.jpg 720w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/207376_328480254974_7325489_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f0f16c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f0f16c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Back in Montreal, I started working on the \u201cHOPE\u201d project with friends. The concept was to send postcards to schools in our area, so the children could write encouraging messages or draw something that would represent hope to them. These postcards would later be relayed to the Japanese kids who had been directly affected by the tsunami. We had partnered with the Red Cross to deliver them. We had amassed more than 50,000 postcards.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dc4967 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1dc4967\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0177-683x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1108\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0177-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0177-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0177-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0177.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fcef29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2fcef29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As our Asian tour approached, we managed to make a change in our schedule and stay a little longer so that we would be able to visit a shelter in Minami-Sanriku, one of the most affected areas. We refused absolutely any medias coverage of the event, not wanting to turn this into a Canadian social statement about how empathetic our government was towards Japan. Government which told us not to go, and that if we went anyway and that something bad was to happen, we were on our own. So much for empathy\u2026<\/p><p>The breaking point, for me, came when we passed the ruins we had seen on TV the first time the images were broadcasted. We were all in the taxi that was driving us as far as the road could take us. Kosho, who was with us, kept thanking us. It was a very poignant moment for all of us. And nobody felt like that deserved any thanks for answering what our hearts had inspired us to do &#8211; visit that shelter where we had sent the HOPE postcards. It was only a few weeks after the disaster, but already, they were begging not to be forgotten. How heartbreaking is that? How moving and touching a message is this? We felt compelled to answer\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-951695c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"951695c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0429-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1132\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0429-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0429-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0429-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0429.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c27b35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c27b35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once on-site, we were able to sit down with the people, to share with them, to hug, to cry, to sympathize, and to receive the most incredible gift there was: the incarnation of what \u201chope\u201d truly means, of what \u201cfaith\u201d truly implies, of what \u201cresilience\u201d truly involves. I could go on and on\u2026 It was so humanely rich. And before we left, an elderly woman approached me, with her magnificent eyes staring right into mine, and she said: \u201cI heard you are a writer, so please, keep on writing about us, to encourage others who might face tribulations and devastation in their lives. Living is the only way we can honor those we have lost. But love and joy are the only gifts that can defeat hopelessness and desperation.\u201d I promised. She smiled.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c00a841 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c00a841\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0183-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1148\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0183-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0183-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0183-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0183.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d71569 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9d71569\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0266-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1136\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0266-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0266-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0266-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0266.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f84c33d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f84c33d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca90ea4\" data-id=\"ca90ea4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9253c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c9253c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0235-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1140\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0235-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0235-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0235-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0235.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-271c9a2\" data-id=\"271c9a2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-179b1c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"179b1c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0206-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1144\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0206-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0206-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0206-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0206.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcf9054 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bcf9054\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1061\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011_05_25_1_tohoku_S0262-web.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89e7604 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"89e7604\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Therefore, every year, on that very day, I take a moment to remember those we have lost and reflect on how I can not only keep my promise but on how much further I am willing to go to do so. What I\u2019ve learned through it all is that no matter how horrible and terrible a tragedy might be, the greatest disaster of all will always remain someone\u2019s loss of hope. So again, if you feel like you\u2019re losing your balance, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out\u2026 You\u2019ll be welcome!!!<\/p><p>There\u2019s hope in dark days\u2026 always!!!<\/p><p>Your brother and friend,<\/p><p>&#8211; Alex<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b403b99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"b403b99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=1iDomziD4G8&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4bbb1f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4bbb1f4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70a0f9be\" data-id=\"70a0f9be\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-386e8144 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"386e8144\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3858ac38 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3858ac38\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2db8f478\" data-id=\"2db8f478\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2f10e0 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-153 elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b2f10e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-xl\" href=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/ask-a-question\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Ask a Question<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are moments in life that will forever be imprinted in your heart and spirit, may they be horrible or &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Edition #10  From a Devastating Tragedy to a Transcending Human Uplift\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/edition-10-from-a-devastating-tragedy-to-a-transcending-human-uplift\/#more-1059\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Edition #10 <br \/> From a Devastating Tragedy to a Transcending Human Uplift<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-a-stranger-to-another","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1059","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1059"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1059\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alexhenryfoster.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}