A story about a train delay and remembering 'the self that chooses' ～A train delay reminded me : This life is my choice～

No.5

* This is a 5-minute video created with words, a 432Hz quartzophone, and a voice technique called toning.

* If you prefer to read it as text, please click here.

A story about a train delay and remembering 'the self that chooses'

The train home was delayed by about 20 minutes.
Is it delayed by "as much as 20 minutes"?
Or is it delayed by "only 20 minutes"?

How one perceives it depends on the individual, but
the train car, which was much more crowded than usual,
felt tense and prickly, even though it was silent.
It felt as though I could hear the silent screams of people's hearts.

That was when it happened. Suddenly, I heard a heated argument.
It seemed that a young woman had stepped on an older woman's foot.

In that cramped space, the voices escalated, and the disharmony in the car was about to
reach its peak.

That was when it happened.
"You're being noisy. If you have a complaint, please ride in the Green Car."
said a woman with a clear, ringing voice.

In an instant, the two fell silent.
At the same time, I felt the heavy, prickly atmosphere in the car suddenly soften.

I was startled.

Including myself, everyone currently in this car has made the choice to "ride in the regular car" of their own free will.
Even though there certainly was the option to pay an extra fee and "ride in the Green Car."
We are all here in this place right now because we chose to be.

We tend to forget that fact.

"I have the freedom to choose."
"Even in this moment, I am living the days I have chosen."

That truth, which I had lost sight of because it was too obvious,
was vividly brought back to me by her single remark that silenced the argument.

No matter how restrictive a situation may seem, we are always continuing to choose.
Perhaps just by being aware of that, we can feel at least a little bit of freedom
in this disharmonious world.