Let's make this year a year like this.

Happy New Year ^ ^

2026 has begun.
I look forward to your continued support this year.

I went to Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year) yesterday, January 1st.
I went to pay my respects on December 30th, and then I visited the shrine twice on January 1st, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

The morning visit counts as my "Hatsumode," I suppose (laughs).

I went with my husband in the morning, and with my daughter in the afternoon.
We walked to a shrine that takes 20 minutes one way.

Both in the morning and the afternoon, I was jostled about while visiting.
I queued to pray, and then queued again to get an ofuda (shrine amulet).

January 1st of this year was both a Taian (lucky day) and an Ichiryumanbai-bi (a day when one grain of rice multiplies ten thousand times), and the weather was mild, making it a perfect day for Hatsumode ^ ^

I'm glad I was able to visit safely.

While waiting in line, I could observe all sorts of human drama (laughs).
People who wanted to finish praying as quickly as possible, people complaining about this and that, and people trying to stop them by saying, "There's no point in complaining, is there?"
Just by standing in line, there was so much going on, and it stirred my emotions (laughs).

We were just standing there,

thinking, "Even if it doesn't seem like we're moving, we're actually making progress little by little,"

looking forward to our turn coming around.

I felt that how you perceive this waiting time really changes whether or not you can stay in a good mood.

You move forward little by little, and your turn will come around.

For when your turn comes, you just need to decide while you wait what you want to pray for, and which ofuda or omamori (amulet) you want to get.

I realized that this is the same for how we live our lives.

For the moment when your goals are achieved, for the moment when your turn comes around, you keep moving forward little by little, stay in a good mood, and wait for your turn.
You steadily prepare for the moment when your turn comes.

Let's make it a year like that.

This year, I will "advance."

I have been moving forward little by little until now, but
I will move forward with more intention.

I am participating in the Kaze no Boushi community.

I will participate again this year and continue to refine myself ^ ^

Let's make this a year full of fun and interesting things!
Look forward to what lies ahead as we move forward, even if it's just a little bit at a time, while laughing ^ ^
I intend to spend my time turning complaints and grumbles into laughter ^ ^

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