[Memo] No matter what anyone says

Is there anything you refuse to compromise on, no matter what anyone says?

It could be a belief, or something like 'I want to do this!' or 'I want to become this!', or even a method, a way of thinking, a perspective, or a set of values—anything is fine.

And please, cherish what you hold dear above all else.

Not something forced upon you by others, but what you yourself believe is important.

Even if it seems trivial to others, or if people think it's strange, if you love it, then I think that's perfectly fine.

We want to cherish the feeling of being able to say clearly that we love what we love, don't we?

Yes.

The past is precious.

The future is also precious.

And the present (now) is also very precious.

Ryotaro Shiba once said something like this:

'You are both the protagonist and the reader. A person's life is sometimes like a novel. It has a theme.'

You notice the existence of a theme when you look back, but it is invisible in this very moment.

But if you are both the protagonist and the reader, don't you think you can enjoy the story together?

And if we could share that story, it would be wonderful, and a story that has been rewritten many times is even more profound and lovely, isn't it?

What is it that you cherish the most?

Your past self, too.

Your present self, too.

Your future self, too.

You are a person made of a jumble of many things, but your existence is the most important thing of all.

Don't forget.

If you do not dwell on the past and truly wish for happiness, happiness will surely come to you.

Don't forget.

The first step toward your happiness is something only you can create.

Before blaming anything else, try taking that first step toward happiness yourself.

To put it dramatically, for that first step, just move your feet without thinking!

Nothing will change if you stand still.

In fact, standing still only increases anxiety and fear.

When you think about it, living things exist accompanied by many sounds.

The sound of a heartbeat.

The sound of breathing.

Cries.

Laughter.

The songs of birds.

The chirping of insects.

The sound of rain.

The resonance of the wind.

And, the sound of footsteps.

Day after day, over and over, the sounds that visit us often help us realize many things.

Rest assured, there is surely someone listening to the sound of that first step you take.

Build up courage by taking action.

And, I think it's best to think while moving, even if it's slow and without rushing.

Don't forget.

Happiness is much closer than you think.

Cherish that fresh feeling, okay?

With that in mind, it's good to have a few firm beliefs—like knowing who you are regardless of what others say—so you don't get swayed.

After all, including past experiences, people around you will always say this or that; before you do anything, you might hold yourself back, or if you do something, you will be evaluated but also criticized.

When you try to do something, some people will offer their own opinions, saying it's impossible or difficult.

The same thing happens when you open your mouth to speak.

So, there are times when reacting to everything people say, including the voice in your own head, is endless.

Of course, it's not that you should ignore everything around you, including your own inner voice; sometimes there are things you want to incorporate, things that are useful, and things you want to use as a reference.

It is important to have an ear to listen and to keep your eyes open.

But it is even more important how you use the information that comes in for your own benefit.

To do that, you need the power to decide for yourself how to use it.

Do you possess that power?

This power is the ability to think, or the ability to screen (choose, check, sift) things for yourself.

For that, it helps to have your own opinions about what you want to do, and to have a sense of 'this is who I am,' no matter what anyone says.

Thinking is also a form of training, and you can't do it if you don't practice it regularly.

Especially if you are measuring yourself based on what others say or what others do, yes.

Thinking 'someone has something, so I want it too' is certainly natural, I think.

But, once again, do I really want that?

When I think about why I want it, I find that the answer is surprisingly different, or that there is no answer or reason at all.

When looking for an answer to something, it is common to see people comparing themselves to standards like 'so-and-so said this' or 'magazines say it's better to do this'.

Even if it is good to use them as a reference, you never know if they truly match your own standards, do you?

Conversely, if you only chase after the answers of others or magazines, your own ability to think and your ability to come up with your own answers will atrophy.

In a sense, not having to think for yourself can actually be quite easy.

It might be easy to have someone else lay the tracks for you and just follow that path without thinking about anything.

Furthermore, if you can get by without knowing how to think for yourself, that might be a wonderful thing in its own way.

But the reality is that for many people, that is not enough, and they cannot be satisfied with that.

How about you?

Think for yourself.

Have something that is your core.

Doing so leads to increased satisfaction with yourself, and it also becomes the strength to deal with whatever happens without being particularly shaken.

Conforming to those around you.

Not just about pleasing those around you.

Align yourself with yourself.

In reality, there are many things you won't understand until you try them and experience them for yourself, right?

That is why, rather than thinking in your head and worrying about this and that, it might be better to simply move forward using your own heart as a guide.

Please try focusing on making yourself happy sometimes, too.