Happy Writing Marathon #24 | How do you spend time that you truly feel is 'fun'?
Until now, I have thought that hobbies I can do alone are fun!
For example, reading, karaoke, watching foreign movies and dramas, English conversation, and traveling.
I certainly enjoy those whenever I want to because I like them,
but the time I can truly enjoy from the bottom of my heart
is,
actually, when I can share opinions about feelings like fun, happiness, interest, and excitement with people I feel comfortable with, important people, or people I like, with whom I can share what is fun and what I like
when I am able to share that.
Yesterday, I bumped into a colleague at the station whom I used to greet often when we worked at the same old factory!
I heard about her recent situation where she spends most of her week at another workplace, and it was just when I was thinking, 'I finally met her after so long! I wanted to see her...'
She was also surprised. She said she had been wondering if she might run into any acquaintances from work while walking through the station outside of work hours, but
it seems I was the only one she actually met (!)
We both shopped at a bakery, and since our home stations were in the same direction,
we ended up taking the same train home,
and even though it was only for two stops, we had a fun conversation about what our hobbies are now and how we spend our days off.
It was an unexpected experience with someone I only exchanged a word or two with when we worked at the factory, just giving her a candy and saying 'Good morning!'
The reason we ended up going home part of the way from the station together outside of work was because we had a friend-like relationship, and she was someone I had been wanting to see and hadn't met in a while,
so it was a mysterious coincidence (synchronicity).
We talked about how she likes and enjoys live concerts,
about wanting to go see the illuminations during the Christmas season, and whether she hangs out or eats with colleagues from work after work or on her days off?
I also asked about those things.
For her, working at another factory on Saturdays and Sundays and working late shifts,
the intention that she was too busy to eat or drink after work or meet up on days off, and that she just wanted to sleep and recover from fatigue if she had the time, came across clearly.
Seeing how she is tossed about by the need to work and earn a living, and cannot make time to be free and relaxed, it made me think about how I myself will balance work and life from now on through her.
It was a productive time that gave me an opportunity to think about that once again.
J is like one of those rare female friends I can be myself around, without having to worry about anything.
I tried asking her, 'Would you like to go out for a meal or karaoke sometime?' but...
As we were leaving, she said, 'Let's meet again somewhere someday! See you!'
I felt a sense of loneliness somewhere deep inside as we parted ways.
Autumn is already halfway through November, and next month is December, the Christmas season.
One of the things I like is the illuminations.
If I had a partner, I'd love to go for a drive, eat yakiniku, go to karaoke, visit Disneyland/DisneySea, and go on trips.
Rather than always enjoying things alone, when I am with someone else
and we are sharing the feeling of 'This is great!' or 'That's great!'
For all of you,
how do you spend time that you truly feel is 'fun'?
As for how I spend time that I truly feel is 'fun',
I will share a story at the end about the best time I ever had in my life.
It was when I held my first Ken Honda book club.
When I held five sessions of an English book club for his global bestseller 'Happy Money' on Clubhouse from May 13 to June 10, 2021,
→ We had up to 280 viewers at the first session, and people from other countries were able to come up as speakers to exchange opinions. The behind-the-scenes meetings where I could talk to Ken in English were a blissful time that felt like I was in heaven. This precious experience of sharing time with Ken Honda, a bestselling author whom I respect and who is my mentor, is a treasure.
The second installment also has infinite potential, and I am currently planning and brainstorming it (!)
Reading Ken Honda's second English book, 'True Wealth',
an English book club to create the best life where you can shine as yourself
How wonderful!
Rather than reading alone, exchanging opinions and outputting
in a book club makes me excited, and I truly feel it's fun! ^^!