Even if it's not the life you imagined, the path still continues.

Hello! It's Usako!
Today, it's about...

The predetermined route isn't the only right answer!

That's the topic.

So, here we go!

I quite like having the morning drama playing
while I get ready in the morning.

I intend to watch it mindlessly, but
sometimes there's an episode that
really hits home.

Does anyone remember
"Tora ni Tsubasa"
that aired about two years ago?

It's the story of the first female lawyer in Japan, and
at first, my impression was
that she was the "original career woman."

She spoke her mind clearly and
lived strongly in a male-dominated society,
but then, just like that.

She quit her job due to pregnancy and
put her law books away in the closet.

After that, her husband died in the war, and
remembering his words, "I want you to live as yourself,"
she decides to work as a lawyer again.

Even though it's a story from decades ago,
I thought, doesn't this still happen normally today?

In this day and age, systems are certainly improving.
There is parental leave and shorter working hours.

But when it comes to reality.

・Choosing shorter hours means falling off the fast track
・Performance reviews assume that "family comes first right now, right?"
・Talks of promotion quietly fade away
・Everyone around you is building their career full-time

There are actually many companies like this, aren't there?

When you look at sites like Yahoo! Chiebukuro,
“I returned to work, but I lost my sense of purpose”
“It’s painful because I feel like I’ve given up on my career”
You see countless voices like that.

Just because a system exists doesn't necessarily mean
that your options are protected.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Is it true that your options have disappeared?
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The reason it feels like your options have decreased
is often just because the route you were using until now
is no longer available.

・The route of getting promoted at the same company
・The route of continuing to work in the same way
・The safe path that everyone else has taken

When those disappear, it makes you feel like
the path has been closed off.

In reality,
you have the freedom to choose your profession,
so you don't have to stick to the same company,

but it still takes courage to let go of your experience
and the trust you've built up at that company.

I myself,

when my husband's health took a turn for the worse,
I was completely overwhelmed by his situation,

and even though that wasn't the case at all,
I had the feeling that my life's options
were disappearing.

The future I had envisioned based on a dual-income household crumbled first, and I envied couples on social media enjoying their travels,

and I would cast spells like "I hope it rains" on them,
thinking to myself, "Wow, I have a terrible personality" (laughs).

That's when I started a side job, but before I did it,
I couldn't have imagined adding another task
when I was already completely overwhelmed.

I just felt like I couldn't be one of those high-achieving types.

However, once I decided to give it a real try,
learning (just by watching videos)
was fun because I was discovering new things,

there were people who resonated with what I shared,
and my need for validation was satisfied,

and by labeling my feelings at the time
and writing them down, my mind began to settle.

It feels like finding a small side path
right next to a door I thought had closed for good.

Even Tora-chan from the morning drama 'Tora ni Tsubasa'
only had regrets left
when she assumed that
'balancing work and child-rearing is impossible,' but,

when she decided to do it,
she asked her siblings living with her
to look after the children,
and went out into society.

The assumption that
'things won't change anyway'
might actually be what's holding us back the most.

Once you let go of that,
a blank slate can be scary, but it's also freedom.

In moments when it seems like your life choices have narrowed,
your next move is usually still a blank slate.

A blank page also means
you can write whatever you want.

Even if you've given up on life thinking, "I'm done,"
things can turn around with just a small change.

Why not write down that first stroke?

P.S.
I am currently giving away a free e-book packed with the process of how I earn from my side hustle and the specific methods I use!
Reading it as your first stroke might change something.
You can receive it by tapping the image below.
⬇︎