Dawn Walking and the Magic of Books That Never Fades

Good morning.

I found a lovely image and borrowed it. Thank you.
I thought it looked like a picture of me from behind when I was a child, fitting for today's article.

It is the morning of August 14th, right in the middle of the Obon season.

I went for my dawn walk again today. I was worried about the rain forecast yesterday, but once I took that first step thinking, "I think I can make it," it turned out to be fine after all. Walking in the morning air is, as always, incredibly refreshing.

Since it is the Obon holiday, it was lively with people enjoying their morning walks. My goal was to return the books I had borrowed to the library at the end of the walking course.
I worked up a pleasant sweat, thinking about how much lighter my steps feel when I walk with a "sense of purpose." I returned home, took a shower, and felt refreshed. I feel like I am having a very ideal morning.

On such a crisp morning, I would like to talk about "books," which are indispensable to my life.

A childhood protected by a world of fantasy

I have loved books since I was young. I was so happy when I entered elementary school and learned how to read. I had picture books before that, but once I could read text, I would borrow many books from the school library and spend all my time reading.

Looking back now, perhaps part of the reason was that I didn't quite fit in with the other children. I was sensitive to reading people's emotions by watching their faces, and there were influences from my home environment as well. For me, someone who loved to silently draw pictures and lose myself in worlds of fantasy, I feel that the world of books held an irresistible "magic."

Perhaps I inherited the blood of my grandfather, who loved to study, and my mother, who was influenced by him. Regardless, as long as I had a book, I could go anywhere. That feeling supported me when I was a child.

The changing form of "reading"

When I became an adult and was busy raising children, the time I could spend reading was inevitably reduced. However, as my life settled down over the last ten years or so, I naturally wanted to pick up books again.

For me now, reading is "learning" and an important tool for self-improvement. Whenever I have a problem I want to solve, I have a history of finding hints in books to overcome it. Especially during this hot season, spending time slowly engaging with a book in a cool room is the ultimate reward.

I used to read business books and self-help books often, but lately, I am drawn to practical books based on solid evidence and books on psychology. I read to learn, internalize the information, and then verify "how it went when I tried using it" in my actual work and life. This process of arranging things in my own way is incredibly fun.

Of course, sometimes I read novels and have a good cry, which is called "ruikatsu" (tear-seeking activity). This has also become an important time for me to reset my heart.

New encounters and future excitement

This summer, I had a wonderful new encounter with an author. Their way of thinking and their ideal way of working matched mine perfectly. I couldn't help but buy three of their books at once and am reading through them all at once. It is very exciting to apply the words of someone who has qualities I want to emulate to my own life.

While being grateful to the library for staying open even during the Obon season, I hope to maintain a good balance between reading and walking.

I have a feeling I am going to be a "bookworm" again today.

What kind of books are you all reading right now? If you don't mind, please let me know your recommendations.

Well then, I hope today is a good day for everyone as well.