#23 With Hands Full of Gratitude, I'm Off!

It's August! Tomorrow, I finally depart for Germany. Thinking back, on the day I returned home after finishing a one-year exchange program in Australia 25 years ago, in August 1998, I made up my mind: "I will definitely go on to a doctoral program abroad!" However, I never ended up pursuing that path and instead entered the workforce. I watched as my friends earned their doctorates one after another, feeling a complex mix of emotions. 25 years later, although a bit late, the time has come to fulfill that wish. Today, I would like to summarize my thoughts on the day before my departure.

The Legendary Valedictory Address

In March 2020, at a university in Tokyo. Although the graduation ceremony was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the valedictory address by the student representative was posted online and became a major topic of conversation. Summarizing it carefully so as not to lose the essence:

At the time, the full text of the above valedictory address was posted on the university's website. Since I believe I understand the nature of this school reasonably well, I would like to say "bravo" to the student representative and to the university for posting the full text. I want people like this to exist at this school, and I think it would be a problem if they didn't.

Thinking of 5 Billion Years from Now

This is a bit of a jump, but when I'm lost about what to do, I often think about 5 billion years from now. You might think I'm being carefree, but if a valedictory address saying "there is no one out there to whom gratitude should be expressed" is permissible, I hope you will also permit me to let my thoughts wander to 5 billion years from now.
There are various theories, but the sun, which will reach the end of its life in 5 billion years, will become a red giant and will likely swallow the Earth.Currently, we are working hard to think about environmental conservation and protect the world heritage sites that humanity should leave for future generations, but it is almost certain that they will all melt away. What I think about here is not "let's move to another planet" or "let's attach an engine to the Earth and go on a journey to find 'another sun' with the planet itself."

One of the most valuable things we, as life on Earth that will inevitably come to an end, can do "now" is, after all, "gratitude" toward others (including not only people, but also animals, nature, and abstract things). Gratitude here does not mean the act of delivering words of gratitude to someone, but rather understanding, respecting, and spreading the value of the "inner richness and peace of mind" of oneself and others when feeling grateful to someone.I want to record in various languages, videos, and music that "Humanity that lived on Earth invented a state of mind called 'gratitude'" and broadcast it into space just before we are swallowed by the sun.

What Did You Do After Your Path Was Decided?

Let's get back to the story. My study abroad in Germany was decided in early March of this year, and at the graduation ceremony at the end of the month, although I missed out on being the valedictorian, I was able to receive the top award for my thesis, just like the student who gave the valedictory address mentioned above (the trophy was too big to fit in my luggage for study abroad 😢). After that, I consulted with my academic advisor and made a "to-do list before my departure in August." It looked something like this:

Hmm, thinking about it now, I certainly made a "packed" plan. If you ask me how it actually went, it's very embarrassing, but I didn't touch any of the five items above at all.I couldn't even manage to be a "one-day wonder," let alone a "three-day wonder." I am amazed at myself for having been able to let go of it to this extent.

Four Months of Just Meeting People

So, what was I doing during the four months from the end of March to July? It was two things: "just meeting people" and "starting and getting my note blog on track." Simply put, I was doing "things I felt like doing and enjoyed" for four months. Well, if you think of it as "spring break for life," maybe this was fine. Looking back at my calendar, I was meeting people with the following frequency:

There were gatherings where people said, "It's a farewell party, so I'll treat you," and gatherings where I went out with young students and paid for them, but even at an average of 5,000 yen per time, that's 100,000 yen in total! I have nothing but gratitude for my wife, who let me go willingly. What was particularly impressive was when I visited a friend's family living in Gunma.

Like this, it was a four-month period where I met with everyone I could think of who 'led me to who I am today' to say 'thank you'. Unlike the student in the opening acknowledgments, in my case, I am surrounded by 'everyone I should express gratitude to,' and I feel that the portion of this study abroad opportunity that I achieved through my own efforts is only about 10%. I can state with certainty that if even one of those things—'that one word from that person,' 'that encounter at that time,' or 'that event in that place'—had been missing, the future starting tomorrow would not exist.

The student above, in the final part of their acknowledgments, says:

is what they stated. I agree completely. If that is the case, I should also have the freedom to express my feelings frankly. I don't know if that student would like or understand it, but these are my thoughts.

Thank you for reading again today.😊
(August 1, 2023)