It's wonderful to be able to live without regrets - My Hello Life from age 56

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There are anxieties, such as money and health.
The most terrifying thing in life is to live with regrets.
You are not alone.
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Shizuko Nakabei
- From Ryu Murakami's "Hello Life from 55"

Reading this line, I was struck as if by lightning.
I was startled.

And then---

Ah, that's good.
Right now, I have no regrets.

I see, having passed the age of 60,
to be living without regrets
is a wonderful thing.

That thought crossed my mind.

Living without regrets? Is that obvious?
You might think so.

But four years ago, when I changed jobs for the first time,
at 56, I could not have imagined
that I would feel this way now.

An overview of "Hello Life from 55," which was released 14 years ago and became a bestseller▼

The people who appear in this book
are those struggling as they face a turning point in life
in their mid-50s.
That is by no means someone else's problem.

In particular, the figure of Taro Tomi, whose confidence is shattered as he continues to be rejected in his job-hunting activities,
was so realistic that I couldn't help but think,
"Is that me four years ago?" haha.

In the end, each protagonist
finds a glimmer of hope.
However, their surrounding environment and problems
have not changed at all.
They have not been solved either.

The only thing that changed
was "myself".
I think that is what it is.

Four years ago, I took early retirement from the company where I had worked for 34 years and 4 months since graduating from university,
and I set my sights on the path of becoming a counselor.
I decided to pursue a career as a counselor.

In other words, it was simply a matter oftrying to change "myself"
—that is all it was.

However, looking back, changing jobs for the first time at 56 was very risky.
Looking back, it was very risky.

Also, I didn't know if the job of "career consultant," which I aimed for as a transition from manager to individual contributor, would really suit me until I actually tried it.
I wouldn't know until I tried.
I wouldn't know until I tried.
I wouldn't know until I tried.

If I had failed at changing jobs...

If the career consultant job hadn't suited me...

Would I have regretted it?

Honestly, I don't know.

However, one thing I can say is,

that I am truly satisfied with this choice.

If I hadn't challenged myself to a career change, I would probably be aiming to change jobs at 60 after mandatory retirement, or I would be walking the path of re-employment.
I would probably be walking the path of re-employment.
I would probably be walking the path of re-employment.

However, for me, that
would surely have been a life of regret..

It is precisely because I took on the challenge that I am where I am today.

Of course, I struggled with the anxiety of "what if I fail?"
But I knew that if I didn't
take the challenge, I would regret it.

The words of the character in the novel at the beginning are exactly that.

The most terrifying thing in life is

to live with regret.

(Reprinted)

There is something in this person's words that resonates as well.

What one should truly fear is not death.
It is not being able to fulfill the life you were given.

- Mitsuhide Ryumon (Nihon Sangoku)

I am truly glad I took the challenge.
And now, the very fact that I can think that way
might be my greatest treasure.
Rather, from here on out,
it is a battle with thissense of accomplishment.

▼ Excerpt from "Hello Life from Age 55" ▼

Thank you for reading my "Hello Life from Age 56" to the end.

Taking this post as an opportunity, I have changed my pinned article. (It is the article I introduced earlier)

The role of the pinned article that received over 400 "likes" has come to an end.