Please support the "The light is green" campaign!

I am running a campaign called "The light is green."

If you see someone with a white cane or a guide dog at an intersection, please tell them the color of the traffic light.

You don't have to speak directly to them; even talking to yourself is fine. Just saying, "The light is green!" can give someone the courage to take that first step.

Nice to meet you, my name is Ono.

I post articles with the theme of social contribution and living authentically after the age of 60.

I apologize for starting this piece with a request, but as you might have guessed, I have a visual impairment and am extremely visually impaired.

I have decided on two policies for my life. They are like a declaration of intent, and they are things I keep in mind while continuing to write on note.

I'm thinking of changing my way of life a little, and since you might be able to relate to this, especially when thinking about life after 60, I would be happy if you could bear with me for a little while.

Oh no! I can't see!

First, a self-introduction
I am currently 59 years old. I make my living as a management consultant for businesses involved in the hot spring industry.

Three years ago, I developed a disease that clouds the cornea, leading to extreme visual impairment, and I received a disability certificate two years ago.

I can manage to see my computer and smartphone by inverting the screen colors to black and white and enlarging the text, but it is now difficult for me to read text on paper or identify people's faces.

When I go out, I carry a white cane and am careful not to trip over steps or bump into people.

In terms of work, there are things I can still help with based on my past experience, but there are also parts that don't go as they used to, so I've found myself in a bit of a bind!

Because of that, I decided to change my way of life before turning 60, and I set two policies for myself.

Policy 1: "The light is green"

The first policy is to put into practice the words I mentioned at the beginning.

As my vision gradually worsened, going out alone became increasingly difficult, with many challenges such as bumping into people, tripping over steps, and not knowing the color of the traffic lights.

However, I was very resistant to carrying a white cane. It felt like admitting that I couldn't see (even though I really couldn't!), and I was worried about people's gazes (even though I couldn't see them!).

But, I had no choice, so I started carrying it with me.

Then, many problems were solved (yay!)

However, surprisingly, almost no one speaks to me even though I carry a white cane.

Even when I stand at an intersection, not even one in a thousand people speaks to me, and I am offered a seat on the train only about 4 or 5 times a year.

I don't mind at all if I'm not offered a seat, but not knowing the color of the traffic light is tough.

Honestly, this was unexpected! How heartless!

At first, I thought it was the shy nature of the Japanese people, but as I continued to observe with my sightless eyes, I realized that wasn't the case.

Humans are animals that do not see what they are not interested in.

People say that others don't look at you as much as you think they do, but it seems they simply don't see me with my white cane right in front of them.

Humans are built so that they do not recognize things they are not interested in or concerned about as their own business, even if they are captured in their field of vision.

Therefore, they do not recognize me with my white cane right in front of them.

Yes, they have no interest.

You might think that if it were you, you would have spoken to such a person, so here is a question!

In the past year, how many times have you spoken to someone with a white cane at an intersection? Do you remember speaking to someone in a wheelchair?

There are 305,000 visually impaired people, and while there is no accurate statistic for people in wheelchairs, it is likely not a small number.

I suspect it is unlikely that you haven't encountered someone with a white cane or someone in a wheelchair at an intersection even once in a year.

This is not a complaint.It is a story of a discovery I made after losing my sight.

I want my vision of interest to be 2.0.

From this experience, what I want to value in my future way of life is to live with an interest in everything.

And, if there is anything I can do or anything I can be useful for, I would like to help as much as possible.

Looking back on my life so far, I feel like I have only been asking for things. I have come to think that I cannot continue like this for the rest of my life.

I feel that spending a life constantly asking for more just because I am visually impaired feels somewhat servile.

"The light is green" is, of course, a phrase I want to be directed at myself.

However, it also carries the meaning of paying attention to and focusing on things that I myself cannot see—in other words, things that are truly important but to which I have been indifferent.

I want to be someone who encourages others

The phrase "The light is green" is a phrase that encourages someone.

Through these words, I am encouraged myself and cross the intersection. In the same way, I hope to become someone who can encourage others.

Perhaps, by living happily and with a policy, even if you are visually impaired or starting from the age of sixty, you might meet people who can empathize with you, and people who will empathize with you might emerge.

If I can encourage someone by living in my own way, I would be happy.

Policy 2: "Always live in the climax"

This is my other policy.

In your sixties, the time you have left is not short, but it is not that long either.

Life up to this point has been a league match where I fought while accumulating various experiences. From now on, it is like a tournament where you don't know when it will end, even while making use of these experiences.

It is a common saying, but today is the youngest day of your life.

Living in the present to the fullest is more important than ever. That is why, at any given moment, now is the climax. I want to live every day without putting things off.

I want to connect with many people.

This may have sounded like a one-sided declaration of determination, but I intend to continue sharing my thoughts in accordance with my policies.

I believe that if I can connect with many people through note, life can become much, much richer.

It would be encouraging if you could follow me. I look forward to your continued support.

For example, I write articles like this

About blood donation, which I was indifferent to until now!
I see, so that's why there is a shortage of blood

Donor registration you were indifferent to until now
Whether you become a donor or not does not matter. The decision itself has meaning.

Eye banks you were indifferent to until now
You can register with an eye bank even at 100 years old; nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, and glaucoma are also okay.