Making a wish on Tanabata without shame
It is July 1st. That means in just six more days, it will be July 7th! Tanabata!
I have never really paid much attention to Tanabata before, but this year I have a girls' gathering planned with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, sister-in-law, and my brother-in-law's wife. (A first-time attempt. That's quite rare, isn't it?)
It just happened to fall on July 7th, and it wasn't specifically planned for Tanabata, but... with such a big, unprecedented event, I've been feeling restless, and '7.7' has been constantly lingering in the back of my mind.
I'll write about the girls' gathering separately, but today I want to talk about my own wish.
I belong to a community called 'Kaku-bu' (Writing Club) hosted by Kotobato-san, and it has been a huge, huge motivation for me to keep writing on note.
And here is a Tanabata project by Kotobato-san!
A Tanabata time capsule. What a romantic sound!
If you write an article about your wish and post it, they will compile it into a magazine and open (remind) it for you in one year.
Recently, I've been so caught up in childcare right in front of me that I've forgotten about my dreams... Wishes, huh...
It makes me sad to sound like a typical adult living in reality, but when I think about it calmly, I realized that I am actually chasing dreams every single day.
Yes, my wish is
To win some kind of award.
When I put it into words, how cheap and childish it sounds! How embarrassing! 'Some kind of award'? What does that even mean! Anything will do?
I really admire people who say, 'I don't care about other people's evaluations, I'll live my own life!' but deep down, I want to be evaluated, I want to be praised, I want to have confidence, and I want to feel a little giddy.
While I think I should consider the purpose, like what I am seeking beyond winning an award, since it is Tanabata, I will try writing it innocently for once.
The Creative Awards I am working on now, the sales promotion competition I worked on a while ago, the various note contests held daily, and the tanka projects advertised on TV—these are all things I could ignore if I wanted to, but I don't.
I can't help but overlook it one way or another, and as I rub my sleepy eyes to apply, I realize I might just be anxious and simply want something objective to prove my worth.
A note reporting results written by someone who won something. A note filled with confidence and gratitude, saying, 'This is the process I followed to reach the result! But above all, it's thanks to everyone! Thank you!' It's something to aspire to, isn't it?
I hope I can write a note like that a year from now! While wishing for that without any shame, I first want to be grateful that I was able to meet the 'me who is actually chasing dreams every day.'
Kotoba-to, thank you for such an exciting project!!! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's wishes!!!