This Moment Will Never Repeat: A Teacher’s Invitation to Presence
Discover the power of Ichi-go ichi-e—the Japanese concept of “one time, one meeting”—and how it can help teachers live and teach with greater presence, purpose, and peace.
As teachers, we often move fast—too fast. There’s always a next lesson, next email, next stack of ungraded papers. But somewhere in that momentum, we risk missing something irreplaceable:
The moment we’re actually in.
Lately, I’ve been learning about a Japanese concept called Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会). It translates roughly to “one time, one meeting.” And its message is this:
Every moment is unrepeatable.
Every interaction is once-in-a-lifetime.
This time, right now, will never happen again.
That might sound dramatic—but it’s also deeply grounding.
In the classroom, this might mean:
- The way a student lights up when they finally get it.
- A quiet check-in before class that becomes a breakthrough.
- A classroom joke that lands perfectly in the moment.
Outside the classroom, it might be:
- A hug before school drop-off.
- A quiet cup of coffee before emails start rolling in.
- A walk, a conversation, a deep breath before the next rush.
None of these can be fully replicated. And that’s what makes them sacred.
A Gentle Reflection:
Ask yourself:
What’s one moment today that deserves your full presence?
It doesn’t have to be big. Just honest. Just real.
If we treat our days not as routines to power through—but as collections of ichi-go ichi-e moments to witness—we begin to live and teach differently.
Not perfectly. But more awake.
Watch the Pep Talk
It’s a pause. A reset. A reminder that this moment will never repeat.
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