What book did you read in your 20s that moved you? #7

I was moved by reading 【How Do You Live?】 (by Genzaburo Yoshino).
It is a book that was given to me by my junior high school social studies teacher at graduation.
It also serves as the basis (original work) for Hayao Miyazaki's film.
I had a period in my 20s when I always kept this book tucked away in my bag.
It was a time when my values were changing between my student days and becoming a working adult.

I opened it when I couldn't consult with anyone.



Those words sting a little bit in a hardened heart.
There is something I realized only now.



Ken Honda
Thank you.
When doing the Happy Writing Marathon 7 this time, I remembered it... and reread it.

There are many messages, but I will introduce just one.



“How do you live?

#I think kindness awakens the natural healing power”

First,
let's exhale a breath.

“Phew...”

The tension in your shoulders might loosen just a little.

Even without doing anything special,
just by breathing slowly,
the depths of your body will remember the 'power to return to normal'.

This is the beginning of awakening your natural healing power.

When you are living,
everyone stumbles or feels distressed at times.

But, precisely at such times,
if you try to remember kindness, just like breathing,
your mind and body will suddenly regain their vitality.

This is one of the things Koperu-kun was taught by his uncle.



When you are suffering the most, you don't have any room to spare.
What does it mean to have your true
worth determined?

What should I do...?

This is not a harsh teaching.
Rather, it is a phrase that unties the stiffness in your heart.

“Precisely when things are tough,
let's try to remember someone for a moment”

That might not be about blaming yourself, but rather a signal to awaken your own natural healing power.

For example—

・While thinking “I'm tired today,” add one “thank you” on the way home.
After facing your own worries, shift your emotions away from them. Moving toward gratitude...

・Say to yourself, “It's okay for today,” even to yourself.
If you comfort yourself by saying you did well, the restlessness will strangely settle down.

・Try taking a deep breath before sleeping while looking at the stars in the sky.
You can feel how small you are.

Gradually, your consciousness shifts away from yourself.

And your feelings will shift toward the people and environment around you.

Could such small kindnesses
actually be secretly activating your natural healing power deep within your body?

As I worked as a nurse and faced patients and their families, I began to think about Genzaburo's words in this way.

Kindness toward you awakens your natural healing power.

It is something anyone can do, like taking a deep breath.
You don't have to try too hard.
Just remembering it for a single breath is enough.

Even if you have a day that doesn't go well, you can just start over.
Humans inherently possess the 'power to return to normal'.
(This is called homeostasis.)

So today, too,
'Let's try to live gently, within our own limits.'

That feeling is already
quietly making your body and mind healthy.

Please wrap yourself in quiet comfort.

And then, look at your surroundings.

When you are in the most pain, show compassion for others, including yourself.

The person in front of you is you.

Psychological Counselor / Nurse / Qigong Practitioner
Chieru Oshima

💛

#HappyWritingMarathon7
#OneBreath
#HowDoYouLive
#NaturalHealingPower
#Homeostasis
#DeepBreath