Kanji of the Year and a Look Back at the Second Half of 2024.

It's all about 'Ki' (energy/spirit).

I think that's the kind of year it was.

So, the Kanji of the Year is '氣'.

Not '気', but '氣'.

Rather than holding it down and stopping it, I think it's better for it to spread in all directions,
without any strain or forcing it,

so since a certain point in time,
I have been using the old character '氣'.

I feel that way because it's better,
so I've been using the old character '氣'.

My realizations of the year with that character.
Please take a peek and enjoy it (⁎ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈⁎)

Introduction

I wrote about the first half of the year in this article here👇🏻.

So, I would like to look back from July in the second half of the year and weave my words together for the whole year.

July: The birth of the Smile King.

A rush of results for the civil service exam written test, the first interview, and the childcare worker qualification practical exam. I passed both safely.
At that time, I never imagined I would be working as a childcare worker by the end of the year.

And, on a Tanabata strip, I wrote that I wanted to become the Smile King.
Since then, the 'Smile King' has often returned to encourage me.

I'm glad I met him.

August: The 4-month challenge ended.

The civil service exam I started working toward in April. The pre-first-exam period where I couldn't keep my motivation up due to a last-minute entry, and the pre-second and third interview periods where I was restless.

What I received at the final interview was a rejection notice.
However, I was relaxed during the final interview and was able to convey what I wanted to say clearly, so I have no regrets.
Although I was sad about the result because I had high expectations, now I think it was for the best.

Taking on the challenge of the civil service exam allowed me to steer my course toward finding a job.

September: I want to be with the radiance of life!

I spent time going to the library, looking for picture books, and trying to write essay-like pieces. At this time, I was still considering a career as a civil servant and had even submitted an application to the prefectural office.

However, around the end of September, while reading a certain book,

It said something like that.
At that moment, I thought to myself, 'Life.'
And as I looked back on various things, I remembered my past desire to 'take care of babies,' which is why I got my childcare worker qualification. If that's the case, I decided, I will pursue the path of childcare.

October: Things started to move.

Once I decided to pursue the path of childcare and started job hunting, interviews were scheduled one after another before I knew it, and thankfully, I received job offers early on. I received offers for a part-time position starting in November and a full-time position starting next April, so my workplace was decided.

Also, it was in October that I took a citizen's course on oral history. I was able to visit my grandmother with my mother and listen to her stories.

And on note, I wrote my first paid article. It was about my experiences job hunting as a childcare worker with no prior experience, as well as my hospital visits.

October was a month where many things started to move.

November: A shiny, first-year childcare worker!

From November, my rehabilitation began with a part-time job three days a week. Although I got through the first week on momentum, I lost my voice in the second week and caught a bad cold. Whether I caught it from the children or my own immune system had weakened, I don't know. After I returned, someone at work told me, 'You've received your baptism.'

It was a month that flew by, but I managed to finish it safely, and during that time, I was also able to meet and chat with people I hadn't seen in a long time.

The part-time work was truly the perfect rehabilitation in terms of physical stamina.

December: Building up step by step.

I worked safely through my second month of rehabilitation and was able to reach the end of the work year the other day.
I won't cut corners, but I will take it easy.
That was the kind of feeling—trying not to overdo it while building up what I could do. Those were my days.

And, for the sake of oral history, I was able to visit my grandmother with my mother again, and I was able to go to a gathering I've been involved with since my seminar days for the first time in about a year, so I feel like I've started to have the energy for other activities little by little.

I have looked back on July through December up to this point.
Looking back like this, I feel happy thinking that I was able to do my best each and every month.

Of course, there were times when I felt exhausted or sulked, thinking, 'Work starts tomorrow...' But I also think that might just be part of being human.

If I had to put it into words,

It feels like, I really lived as a "human" this past year!!

Something like that?

Days I look back on with "affection"

Let me return for a moment to the look back at the first half of the year; at the end of that article, I reflected as follows.

Thinking about it now, at the time, I wasn't just feeling the sense of accomplishment of having run through the difficult days that were passing by; I was moving forward while savoring each one (?). I was making choices I was convinced of, and building my future.

I think I was able to feel "affection" because I was gradually becoming able to do that.

Looking back on 2024

This past year was a year of major changes.

In terms of work, after taking a break, I returned to the workforce by changing jobs, even if it was just part-time.

Mentally, it was also a year of searching for ways to notice the assumptions within myself, unload them, and become lighter.

When I reread the paper diary I wrote exactly one year ago, I was still in the darkness during the year-end and New Year holidays last year.

I was full of anxiety and negative thoughts.
My mind and body were out of sync, and I wasn't listening to the voice of my heart.

I think the reason I am who I am today is because I was able to rest slowly at my parents' house, was guided to the places I was meant to be, and was able to ride the tide at each moment.

By writing on note, I was able to leave behind my feelings at each moment, as if driving a stake into the flow, rather than just consuming the days as they passed by.

By writing things down,
by posting articles,
sometimes I can let go,
and sometimes I can truly feel that I am here.

I am glad that I was able to continue writing this year as well.

So, this year was a year where I realized my own assumptions and discovered a dream to "become the king of smiles."

About those assumptions.
I want to write about them again somewhere and let them go.

May next year also be a year full of learning.

Thank you very much.

Finally

Thank you always for your likes, comments, and follows. They encourage me!

Let's meet again🌱

Have a wonderful end of the year and start of the new year🌃