The other day, I turned 50. When I turned 40, I was delighted because I felt like I was stepping into the middle-aged world, which sounded more profound. Now, I am also excited, thinking about how I am going to live my next 50 years (assuming I live a long life). I would like to take this opportunity to share my aspirations here.
Living in the forest, I rarely meet people, but I cherish the connections I have with my friends. No matter how far apart we are, when we meet, I can instantly return to the feelings we had when we shared our true thoughts. Then, we can reflect on how hard we have worked to live and encourage each other. I am grateful for the bonds I share with my friends, and I want to stay light on my feet so that I can visit them whenever I like.
Also, there is an abundance of nature around me, and whenever I come into contact with it, I cannot stop being curious about the insects, moss, trees, flowers, birds, stones, and, last but not least, the volcano. I want to explore and discover something new every day and record my findings.
My dream of living in the forest has come true, but I have another dream: to grow crops on a farm, and I plan to start next year when it gets warmer.
I also enjoy thinking about things inside the house. The renovation and DIY work is almost complete, and from now on, I want to focus on tidying and decorating.
Regarding my career, I will continue to study engineering. Currently, I have more books than I can fit in the bookcases that line one of my walls, and I still have many packed in cardboard boxes. I intend to read and learn as much as I can, keeping only the books I love, and letting go of the rest.
To celebrate my birthday, I had dinner in Karuizawa (hotpot, as it was cold) and bought a book about birds from a bookstore. The habits of each bird are depicted in humorous cartoons that make me laugh out loud. I want to be able to identify the birds singing around my home as soon as possible. Oh, right now a bird is calling “Lilililili”. I wonder what kind of bird it is.
(The photo shows the flowers I received from Subaru to celebrate the delivery of my car. They are blooming beautifully today as well, with the buds gradually opening.)