The wind does not hurry
One day, in the middle of summer school,
a boy who will be taking middle school entrance exams next year
spread out a piece of paper for me.
Red, blue, yellow, green.
It was a weekly schedule color-coded by subject.
Starting with morning "wake-up calculations",
until bedtime at 10:30 PM,
his study plans were neatly lined up.
For students preparing for exams, summer is an important season.
Whether it's university, high school, or middle school entrance exams,
everyone is walking with all their might
toward their own future.
The sight of someone working hard is truly beautiful.
However, I think working hard
and straining oneself are slightly different things.
I remembered a story about the Muromachi period swordsman, Tsukahara Bokuden.
A young swordsman became Bokuden's apprentice.
"If I train with all my might, how many years will it take to receive full mastery?"
"About five years, I suppose."
"Then, what if I train forgetting to eat and sleep?"
"Ten years."
"Then, what if I do it like a madman?"
Bokuden smiled quietly and said,
"In that case, it would be impossible even in a lifetime."
That is what he reportedly answered.
What...???
You would think the harder you work, the faster you would improve...
It is a very strange story, isn't it?
But, certainly,
if you strain too much, your field of vision narrows,
and you can only see what is right in front of you.
At such times,
there is no longer any margin left in your heart.
The TV personality Miyazon says,
"You don't have to give it your all,
sixty or seventy percent is just right."
That is what he says.
The more you relax,
the more strength you have.
<Michizo Noguchi, Physical Education Researcher>
It is mysterious.
But, if you think about being in the water,
I feel like I can understand it a little.
If you struggle desperately, your body will sink.
But, if you suddenly relax,
surprisingly, your body floats on the water.
Perhaps life is the same way.
To continue your efforts,
you need "margin."
When you open a window, the wind blows in softly,
and the curtains sway quietly.
Cold barley tea moistens your throat.
Even just with that,
you feel your heart soften a little, don't you?
Flowers do not bloom in a hurry.
Clouds do not drift in a hurry.
The wind does not hurry.
Even so, the seasons turn,
flowers bloom, and the sky slowly changes its colors.
Nature says nothing.
It is just there.
And,
"It is okay for you to go at your own pace."
I feel as if it is gently
staying by my side like that.
That boy I mentioned at the beginning.
I am sure he is at his desk again today.
With all his might.
That is exactly why,
I want him to look up from time to time.
To gaze at the clouds drifting outside the window,
to listen to the sound of the wind,
and to breathe in the summer air
with all his heart.
That kind of time
should surely become an irreplaceable time.
Yes, to keep working hard,
it is also necessary to relax sometimes.
The wind never hurries today either.
Try slowing down your walking pace just a little.
And then again,
you can just start walking at your own stride.
You don't have to hurry, it is okay.
Please try breathing in
the summer air to your heart's content.
🍉Thank you for reading again today.
I look forward to seeing you next time.🍉