Fujiko Suda / Reflection

How some of us become strong

We had a great time talking, exchanging ideas and thoughts. My friend and I agreed that we grow because we were given the opportunity to grow. Our choice was to either keep being miserable about the past situation we lived through, or accept the past, learn, and move on.

But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam's plain hobbit-face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.

The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien

Mastering business skills

Natural tendency of liking people and wanting to communicate is probably what makes a good interpreter. It is what probably makes a good painter of people. But I was not interested in pursuing the art of interpreting or painting. I think these skills are tools to pursue my path to mastering the art of doing business. I am lousy in taking care of details. But learning details is paramount in business, and I continue to go through the phases of mastering the art business.

<i>In action, it makes a difference whether all you are trying to do is to act or whether you are trying to act competently. It helps a great deal to know what the hell you're doing. What are you going to do well? Are you going to be a painter, a Picasso? Is this where your life achievement is? That is a real sacrifice of life.
Whatever choice you make, there is a period of learning and analyzing, when you are not in action, the body is not in performance. Anyone who has taught somebody a skill has seen this stage, where the student is analyzing and trying to do it, but really not in it. Then, finally, the person is able to give expression to what he or she is intending to express.

In action, it makes a difference whether all you are trying to do is to act or whether you are trying to act competently. It helps a great deal to know what the hell you're doing. What are you going to do well? Are you going to be a painter, a Picasso? Is this where your life achievement is? That is a real sacrifice of life.
Whatever choice you make, there is a period of learning and analyzing, when you are not in action, the body is not in performance. Anyone who has taught somebody a skill has seen this stage, where the student is analyzing and trying to do it, but really not in it. Then, finally, the person is able to give expression to what he or she is intending to express.

Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion by Diane K. Osbon

Italian friends

I enjoy reviewing my blog access status each day. My unseen friends are mostly those living in Japan, second in US, and third in Italy. Italy! I am fascinated that some people in Italy are reading my blog. I wonder if these people are Japanese living in Italy, or Italians interested in whatever I write about (workplace?). I have been to some countries, but never to Italy. I have always wanted to visit the land that produced people who influenced the world civilization so thoroughly. In my past, I was in love with Renaissance art, fascinated with Machiavelli, Dante, Galileo, marvelled at beauty of pasta, impressed with office furniture.

This might be a very good time for me to visit Italy.

Sunset of a day of Winter into Spring

Sunset at Mohabe Desert was salmon pink. It was not silent. The desert sunset I experienced was so alive with the whistling of whirling wind. In the desert, I learned that I could see and hear the wind in the distance approaching me. Dust rising in far foothill of a dark mountain, silhouette against pink sunset, the great dancing body of dust approaching me with gathering whooshing sound. So fascinating, so beautiful. Sunset in a strange land.

Sunset at Yokohama is salmon pink. Getting over my cold sickness, I was feeling so happy as I rode my bicycle along Tsurumi River on this cold, clear, winter day. I see plum blossoms blooming, bare purple cherry tree branches so pregnant with anticipation of full spring flowers. The winter is turning into spring! I can feel it. Having gone through several months of cold weather, my blood somehow thickened, and it recognizes the intensifying strength of sun ray.

Am I prepared for the spring? Have I done all the work I could have done during my winter days, so that my branches are ready to spread my inner strength outward? Winter has been comfortable. Slow, economical movements. Looking inward. But have I rested enough?

It occured to me that I have gone onto my winter journey when I sought Mohabe Desert one and half years ago. No other human soul in site as far as I could see, as I walked alone in a vast, salty desert, hearing the wind in pink sunset, faint twinkling of stars, crescent moon rising. I was walking into my winter. Riding in the sound of wind, sunset bathing the white concrete building in salmon pink light in Yokohama, I have come to realize the winter is turning into spring.