[Public Relations Diary] Born into this world ~Watching the sky, reading books, eating, drawing, and living today~

The first week of July, I was feeling a bit under the weather. I had a sore throat. Whenever even a small part of my body is unwell, it affects my whole system. The sore throat led to a stuffy nose and a cough. I went to an ENT doctor, got some medicine, and spent my time quietly.
This week, I finally regained my energy, and my sore throat has improved significantly, so I've been feeling good.

Along with my physical recovery, I've also gotten used to this humid, summer-like weather. After all, I love the summer sky, and I've been spending time every day slowly and carefully watching it.
However, on this Friday as I write this, the temperature suddenly dropped, making it a comfortable and cool day, almost like autumn.

▼ Blooming your own flower

When I'm feeling unwell, my motivation to read books also drops. While thinking, 'I want to return to a state of mind and body where I can read,' I remembered I had been reading this book. 'Sakamura Shinmin: One Word a Day' doesn't take much time to read just one entry, and I liked its casual nature.

Becoming your true self. Living your own true life. Opening up your own true potential. This could also be called 'your own flower.' Blooming your own true flower. I'm not even sure myself if it will bloom from now on or if it is already blooming.

▼ Now

Now is now. Now passes quickly, slipping away in the blink of an eye. It's like watching an hourglass. It flows from top to bottom, and the narrowest part is 'now.' In this very moment, what do I feel, and how do I live? There is no past or future, only the present. I am living here and now. What remains is my breath. I completely forget about this breath. I need to notice my breath, notice the sensations in my body.

▼ Your own path

There is only this one path. This path I am walking right now. Without doubt, without anxiety, just walking earnestly—my path. The events I encounter while walking, the people I meet. Including everything, I want to be grateful for the present, and without asking for more, I just want to accept the now.

▼ Life Lessons: A book for me who cried, 'I'm not happy at all'

Humans have various lessons to learn throughout their lives. Even if it is impossible to master them all in one lifetime, the more you learn and practice them, the fewer problems you will have, and the more fulfilling your life will become, allowing you to truly live. And even if you are to die someday, you will be able to say with pride, 'Ah, I have lived!' ...Such words are written on page 9. I nod deeply, thinking, 'That is exactly right.'

To become a 'true self'

The various lessons written in this book are lessons for becoming a 'true self.' Including 'love,' 'human relationships,' 'loss,' 'guilt,' 'time,' 'fear,' 'anger,' 'play,' 'patience,' 'surrender,' 'forgiveness,' and 'happiness,' a true self emerges beyond continuing to learn and practice all of these. Now, will I be able to realize this even a little while I am alive, and live a life where I can feel that way?

Don't be satisfied with just reading

There was a certain sense of accomplishment when I finished reading it. I spent time reading it while looking at the past and the present. I told myself, 'No, no, now that you have read and learned this, you must practice it in your daily life.'
In my sense, I think it is good to read it at milestones, for example, after finishing something. When looking back on the past. Also, I feel it is suitable for reading at New Year's, birthdays, the end of the year, or when reaching some kind of milestone.

▼Gazing at Humanity / Mieko Kamiya

This book was also a very good one. I like Mieko Kamiya's beliefs and values. That is why I strongly feel the energy for 'life' that is conveyed through her writing.
Even for this small, precious existence called 'me,' as a human given a life with 'consciousness'—how to be, how to live—I will use up this life.
Because I am made to exist as a human.

It was a phrase that really struck me. I wonder if it's that I can't forget it. Somehow, I feel like I think about similar things. I will draw my last breath without knowing what I am until just before I die. I want to tell myself that I have finished everything I set out to do in this life and that I have 'lived it to the fullest.' I am currently walking a life where I can say that.

▼Cold Soup and Bento

Because of this heat, I have been making cold soup almost every day. I chill dashi made from kombu and bonito flakes well, and add cucumber, green onions, tofu, and white sesame seeds. I dissolve miso in it, and it's done. It's really easy and delicious, so please try it! It's good if you have shiso leaves. It's good if you have grilled horse mackerel. But even when you don't, you can make it quickly and deliciously with what you have at home. Hot rice and cold soup soak into the body!

▼Drawing pictures is so much fun

In today's Kikuri Radio recording, we talked about 'new experiences.' It only just occurred to me, but I've been trying my hand at oil painting since this year.
I feel nostalgic for the time when I was a teenager and attended a prep school aiming for art college. I think it was my second year of high school when I stopped going. My memory is a bit hazy, and I've forgotten what I even told my parents. The main reason was that my dream had changed. I thought, 'I'm not going to art college, so there's no reason to be here,' and decided immediately. My mother stood by my feelings and accepted it. I remember my teacher trying to stop me many times, saying, 'Why are you quitting? It's such a waste.' Even now, his face vaguely comes to mind.

Time has passed. Unlike back then, I am truly enjoying drawing. When I drew for the purpose of entrance exams, I was always looking for the 'correct' answer. I was always worried about how I compared to others.

I thought my teacher's words, 'It's good to pour your feelings into the colors,' made a lot of sense.

I apply the colors as I feel. Like a flow. Without thinking about anything. Without trying to find the correct answer. I learned for the first time as an adult that 'drawing is so much fun.'

On this day, I was moving my hands while thinking and hesitating in my head about what to do. My teacher made some corrections and adjusted the size of the angel. I'll continue from here next time.

Thank you for this week as well.
It's a cloudy sky tonight, I wonder if I can see the moon.
Thank you for always reading.
I am praying for your safety today as well.
May you have a peaceful sleep tonight.