Lost but Found in Japan: How a Wrong Turn Taught Me Courage, Independence, and Inner Strength as Someone who is BLIND

I was in Japan in August 2018 with four other visually impaired students, and we stayed at a hotel for two weeks. One afternoon, I needed to go to the restroom, which was located outside my hotel room. Since it was only our second day there, I still wasn’t familiar with the place.
I asked my fellow participants to point me toward the restroom, feeling confident that I could make it on my own. At first, I walked with certainty, trusting their instructions. But soon I realized they had pointed me in the wrong direction.

I walked from one side of the hotel to the other, turning left and then right, even accidentally entering a changing room. I kept going, trying to orient myself through unfamiliar hallways, until I eventually ended up on the hotel balcony.
Fear slowly crept in. I almost cried, realizing how unfamiliar everything felt and how much I had to rely on my other senses to navigate safely. For a moment, I felt completely alone.
Then a kind Japanese woman appeared. I asked her where the restroom was, and with her help, I finally found it.

That moment made me reflect deeply. In life, there will be times when no one can guide you but yourself. You must depend on your inner strength to face challenges, fight silent battles, and continue becoming independent. Sometimes, you truly have to be lost to find yourself.

The woman waited for me outside and guided me back to my hotel room after I told her my room number. On the way, we bumped into a man who spoke to her. I didn’t understand their conversation, but I sensed they were talking about me and the others who were probably worried and searching. When I returned safely to my fellow participants, the fear from earlier finally faded. I smiled, feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment and newfound confidence.

That experience in Japan taught me something life-changing. Courage and independence often grow out of moments with uncertainty and fear. Trusting myself—and embracing challenges—helped turn a frightening situation into a lesson in strength, and self-discovery.

— Angeline Bernadette 🩷

This post is completely AI-free. All words and photos are my own.