How to Spend the 'Winter' of Life

Hello, this is Maru.

People say, 'Nothing happens in this world without meaning.'

I first learned this phrase during the third setback of my life.

The first was when I became disabled in one leg due to illness. The second was when I lost the use of my right hand due to an injury. The third was when I was diagnosed with cancer.

'What kind of meaning could this event possibly have!'

I would punch my cushion repeatedly
to vent my anger.

When you are at rock bottom, every day is a storm.

It feels like being in a frozen land at minus 40 degrees.
I couldn't see ahead through the blizzard,
the plants had all withered,
and I felt like the only person left in the world.

Yet, when I looked around,
I saw people living happily
and enjoying their hobbies.

I couldn't believe we were living
in the same world.

'What on earth am I supposed to learn from this reality...'

It is true that there was meaning in what happened, but
when I was in the middle of it, I couldn't find that meaning
and I suffered truly.

However,
after reading Ryo-yan's article,
I became able to see things
from a new perspective.

Just as nature has four seasons,
it seems life has four seasons as well.

However, for each person,
you never know when the 'winter' period will arrive.

I spent a very long time in 'winter,' but
the people I envied
might have been in 'summer'
or perhaps 'autumn.'

Our seasons were just different.

I realized that when I was in 'winter,'
trying to imitate people in a different season
was never going to work out.

If you wear short sleeves in winter,
you will be cold and freeze.

I would also want to refrain from
eating shaved ice or swimming in the ocean.

In 'winter,' I should have just
spent it in a 'winter' way.

Instead of envying others,
I realized it was important to
patiently wait for 'spring'.

After all,
because 'spring' will definitely come.

If you can find the good in winter,
you might be able to enjoy the 'winter' season more.

If you try enjoying the differences of each season
and can share the good qualities of each other,
it seems there is something to gain even in 'winter'.

If 'winter' is bound to come,
I want to think about how to change it into something interesting.

That is what Maru thinks.

Thank you for reading
until the end.

If you could give me a like, comment, or follow,
it would be a great encouragement for the future!