When Rainy Days Change from 'Gloomy' to 'Enjoyable': The Reverse Thinking That Eased My Mind, Taught by a Storm Glass

*This article is a contribution to the 'Gift Writing' project, a new initiative by Tsuro Tabata, whom I follow mutually.

▼Click here for details on 'Gift Writing'

I am currently a member of Tabata-san's note membership. Recently, a casual comment I made in the membership lounge (bulletin board) led to a wonderful new project proposal from Tabata-san, and I was fortunate enough to be present for its momentous first launch.

▼ Here is the actual comment from the bulletin board

From this post, Tabata-san came up with a wonderful project and immediately gave shape to the concept. That is the aforementioned 'Gift Writing,' and through an actual conversation, as an 'article gifted by Tabata-san,' I will publish the following in its entirety, including the title of this article.
I will publish the following in its entirety, including the title of this article.
Also, this corresponds to
'STEP 2: Provision (Article Gift)'
.

Introduction

The heaviness and pain in my head that always arrive when low pressure approaches.

For those who are prone to feeling unwell due to changes in atmospheric pressure, isn't the season of continuous rain a'time of trial'that sinks not only the body but also the heart?

I myself used to be like that.

I gave up, thinking it was an unavoidable constitution and that I had no choice but to get by with painkillers.

To me, a friend brought'a completely new way of facing rainy days'.

This time, I will talk about the'reverse thinking'for keeping one's mental state calm, which I learned from a gift I received about 10 years ago.

1. A teardrop-shaped gift that arrived from the May sky

It was one day in May when the footsteps of the rainy season began to be heard.

A package arrived without warning from a friend living in another prefecture.

When I opened the box, inside was a beautiful teardrop-shaped glass filled with liquid and a wooden base.

It wasan interior item called a 'Storm Glass (Tempo Drop),' modeled after a weather observation instrument used by 19th-century sailors.

The card enclosed with it had this message attached.

“I remember you saying before that you always get a headache on rainy days. It seems the shape of the crystals changes with the temperature and air pressure. I thought I’d give this to you to keep in your room, hoping it might help you feel a little better.☺️”

A casual gift on a day that was neither a birthday nor anything special.

I remember my heart brightening up instantly, both from the kindness of a friend who remembered a casual remark I had made, and from the surprise that such a wonderful thing that tickles one's curiosity even existed in the world.

2. A counterintuitive idea to turn 'gloom' into 'enjoyment'

The storm glass changes its appearance little by little every day.

One day, fern-like crystals resembling snow settle at the bottom, and on another, tiny star-like grains dance within the liquid.

Until then, 'rain' had been nothing more than an annoying cause of headaches for me.

However, this gift brought a
“counterintuitive idea” into my life.

“Low pressure is coming = I will get a headache”

The gloomy fact of

“Low pressure is coming = I wonder what kind of crystals I will see today”

was transformed into the joy of observation.

I cannot change the weather, and it is difficult to change my physical constitution immediately.

However, it was an eye-opening realization that just by changing my 'perspective' on how I perceive the phenomena in front of me, I could rebuild my own sinking mental state.

3. The flexibility to compensate with 'something else' without fearing loss

This 'counterintuitive idea' became a great support in my life thereafter.

During a period when work was extremely busy, I suddenly developed hearing loss in my left ear.

I became unable to pick up low sounds, and the fear of 'what if I lose my hearing completely' struck me.

However,

In a situation where I would have only felt pessimistic in the past, this thought suddenly occurred to me.

"Well, when that time comes, I'll just learn sign language and enjoy a new way of communicating."

Instead of just lamenting what is lost,
fill the empty space with something else.

Thanks to this flexible way of thinking, I was able to avoid being swallowed by excessive stress.

In closing

Currently, I am experiencing depression for the second time in my life and am undergoing recuperation.

Mental health struggles can make a person feel deeply depressed and narrow their perspective.

However, trivial daily triggers or words received from someone can sometimes suddenly open up a new path.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can manage your own mood and restore your peace of mind.

If you are currently facing something you dislike or an unavoidable pain, please try searching a little to see if there is a hidden chance to convert it into 'some other kind of enjoyment'.

The possibility that 'gloom' can turn into 'liking' is hidden in unexpected places in daily life.

Just as the teardrop-shaped glass in my room taught me, I hope that your day today will be a little easier.

[Impressions/Postscript]

The writing of someone skilled at it is concise, summarizes the key points of what they want to convey perfectly, and I have nothing but gratitude for receiving such a wonderful gift once again...
The purpose of this project is for this to be a 'draft' gifted from Mr. Tabata to his collaboration partner, but since it was already wonderful as is, I used it without changing a single word.


Mr. Tabata, thank you for the wonderful gift writing article.🙇✨️

Also, since this was the first time, and with the goal of trying every possible style for the dialogue, I didn't just reply to the interview sheet,but I also joined Mr. Tabata's podcast via call to have a conversation, discussing the stories that became the basis for this article.

If you scroll to the bottom of Mr. Tabata's note article (URL below) published on the same day, you can also listen to the podcast dialogue in audio only.


▼ Digest article of the dialogue by Mr. Utsuro Tabata

▼ Podcast dialogue with Mr. Utsuro Tabata

If you are interested in the content of this piece, please also take a look at the article on Tsuro Tabata's note.

▼ Click here for Tsuro Tabata's note

※ My own writing for this project is scheduled to be posted as a follow-up article at a later date.🙇
Please wait a little longer.