[A Moving Story] At 38, Life Ends Once.

On the day I turned 39, my daughter turned 7.

As I watched my daughter blow out the candles around the cake, I suddenly wondered,
"What have I been doing until this age?"

Work, marriage, raising a child.
I have lived a life that looks smooth on the surface. But there was a void somewhere in my heart.
It was the feeling of not having found a "meaning of my own."

When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be an astronaut.
In high school, I formed a band and aimed for the Budokan.
In college, I decided I would start my own business.

But now, I work as I am told by others.
Before I knew it, the things I could call "dreams" had disappeared somewhere.

On a night like that, after putting her to bed, my daughter said this out of the blue.

"Daddy, what did you want to be?"

I was at a loss for words at the sudden question.
I can remember what I "wanted to be." But,
I couldn't immediately come up with what I "want to be" now.

"Hmm, well, a long time ago, I wanted to draw picture books,"
I said with a laugh to hide my embarrassment, and

my daughter's eyes lit up as she said, "That's great! Let's do it!"

It was like the purest "support" in the world.

At that moment, I felt a strange sensation.
After living for 39 years, I finally felt my "heart move."
It might sound exaggerated, but—
I think that was the "beginning" of my life.

They say that the genetic lifespan of a human is up to 38 years old.
If I think of 39 as a "new me" reborn,
I feel like this day became the day of my "restart."

Since then, I started drawing little by little.
It had been a long time since I held a pen, and at first I was bad at it, but
it was enough that my daughter would laugh and say, "Cute!"

"Draw more of that."
"What happens on the next page?"
"Daddy, why don't you really make a picture book?"

Encouraged by those words,
I now set aside 30 minutes at night as "my own time."

I cut down on the time I spend watching TV.
I also spend less time on my smartphone.

But my heart is full.

Perhaps it is "not too late to start life at 39."
No, rather, the life you "truly want to live" might begin
on "the day someone pushes you forward."

And for me, that push came from
the small "daughter's hand" that said "Let's do it"
while she was tucked under the covers in bed.

Thank you for reading until the end.

Sometimes, a single word from someone can suddenly move your heart.
I would be happy if this story could be one of those "triggers" for you.

If you'd like, please let me know your thoughts or realizations in the comments; it would be encouraging.
I hope to see you again in another story.