Stories to help you be kind to yourself

Hello, I'm Maru.

Through my experience of changing from being super negative, I share the secrets to living comfortably and how to embrace your true self.

Dashi (stock) is essential for Japanese cuisine.

Bonito stock
Kombu (kelp) stock
Dried sardine stock
Shiitake mushroom stock

There are many kinds of stock, aren't there?

Dishes with a rich, well-extracted stock
are full of flavor and aroma.

However, bonito swimming leisurely in the ocean do not produce stock.
Kombu swaying in the sea does not produce stock either.

The ocean is full of things that look like they would make good stock, but
to extract the stock, a process of [drying] is necessary.

Once they are dried out completely,
they start to produce good stock.

The same goes for things from the mountains.
Shiitake mushrooms also increase in umami when dried.

This seems to apply to humans as well.

Because the painful and difficult things we experience
can be useful later on.

Kotaro Hisui said this in his book.

*The story about the stock is also from Mr. Hisui's book.

However, when I was at rock bottom,
I didn't have the luxury of thinking this way.

“This is the worst...”
“It's all over...”

Like the kelp in the ocean, I was just swaying.
I swallowed unpleasant things as they were,
lost hope, and even came to hate myself.

But as time passed and my feelings settled down a little,
I became able to look back at those experiences slowly.

That was when, finally,

"I am who I am today because of who I was back then."

There was a moment when I could think that.

So, even if things are tough right now,
it is okay not to force yourself to be positive.

Depending on how you handle it later,
rock bottom can sometimes turn into a good stock.

I would be happy if you could keep that
in the back of your mind.

☆Please also check out this article

Thank you
for reading until the end.

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Please also take a look at my self-introduction and site map.

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