There is a Japanese saying that goes "when you stand in front of the lighthouse you often miss the light."
Being in Japan, we often miss all the blessings and the "light" and can only see all that is bad. It is good to leave once in a while and step back and see the "lighthouse." For all its faults, we are very lucky in a world of strife and war to live in a place of peace and freedom.
Going into airport after airport all I could think of was getting back "home" where things are -- even with all their problems -- so peaceful.