Survival Strategy: Why I Fled Japan for Los Angeles and the Cost of 10 Years of Silence

My last post showed the $3.80 in my AdSense account. Some might ask, "Why did you leave it for 10 years?"

The truth is simple, yet heavy: I was busy surviving. 

1. The Reality of a Single Mother in LA Ten years ago, I didn't know how to handle YouTube or digital marketing. As a single mother in Los Angeles, my days were consumed by work, and my nights were dedicated to my child.

Between paying bills and being there for my kid, 24 hours was never enough. Learning video editing or blogging felt like a luxury I couldn't afford. Before I knew it, a decade had passed in the blink of an eye.

2. Why I Fled to America I needed an ocean between me and my toxic mother in Japan. In Japan, she could reach me too easily. A single phone call or a short trip could shatter my peace. I chose LA because I needed a place where she couldn't just "show up." Here, distance is my protection from her.

3. Why "Now" is the Only Time Now, my child is a college student, and I finally have a little time for myself. But at the same time, I’ve reached middle age. I’m starting to feel that I can’t work long, physical hours like I used to.

I thought, "I need to find a way to earn a living using my computer." With that hope, I logged into my old AdSense account for the first time in years. When I saw that $3.80, I was devastated. I felt crushed.

But then, I thought: "Since I'm already here, why not try one more time?"

I’m starting from $3.80. It’s a long way to $100, but this is my second chance.