Thank you all for being here on the final day of 2023. I kept stitching almost everyday, aiming to complete the 100 meter Asano-ha Project (not done yet, hope to complete it within 2024) and more. Sashiko is our ordinary, and we are very happy that our ordinary can be your inspiration.
☆
I often say that Happiness is something to “realize”, not to achieve. I decided to share this very personal photo to share the happiness I am with – Me stitching & dear daughter reading to me a book “How to Smile”. Well, I do smile. I am just a “Japanese”. (Also, don’t mention my “posture”…)
☆
Having a “firm belief” helped me to realize Happiness. In Japanese, it is “信念 (Shinnen)”. It isn’t quite the same as another popular word “Ikigai”… Shinnen is more like the fundamental basis of daily decision. As humans, we cannot stop comparing ourselves to others, and then feel less valued. Others seem to have so much brighter days, yet facing the so-called “reality” that puts us down. I always wished to be someone else. I wish I could do more. I see others paying big cash, which I don’t have, to a “helicopter” to the middle (a summit like place) of a mountain. I wish I could say that I am at the summit to get more validation… yet, I have “Shinnen” to share the clear & purest water in a small path to the summit where helicopters cannot access. I am happy because of “Shinnen”.
☆
Interestingly, Shinnen also means “New Year” with different characters. I welcome “Shinnen/新年” with my long-living Shinnen/信念. I hope you welcome the new year with Happiness nearby (in stitching).
☆
–
–
–
☆
今年も残り僅か。英語中心の投稿ではありますが、沢山の日本の方とのご縁も頂き、幸せを感じながら年末年始に刺し子をしております。このタイミングで重ねのスイッチが入るとは思わなかった。写真は刺し子をする横で娘が「笑顔になる方法」という本を読んでくれている夜の大切な時間の一枚です。読んでいる本が誰に向けてなのかと、私の姿勢（運針会でやっちゃダメって言う姿勢）は笑って通り過ごして頂ければ。
☆
昔から人と比べる性格でした。隣の芝は青い…とはよく言ったもので、隣の生き生きとした芝に集中しすぎて、自分が育てた芝に関心を寄せず枯らしてしまうような生き方でした。今も人と自分を比べてしまいます。自分ができることには価値を見出さず、人様ができていることに羨望を向けてしまう。とはいえ、人間は比較をしないと（何・誰かとの関係性の中でないと）生きていけないと思うので、「人と比較するな」は現実的な向き合い方ではありません。ではどうしたら上手に向き合っていけるかというと、「信念を持つこと」です。できれば「揺らぐことを前提とした信念」で、誰かにその信念をずーっと見ていて貰えると安心です。人は弱いから、見えないところで信念も都合で変えちゃうんですよね。
☆
私の信念は…これまで言葉にしてきました。来年も同じように言葉にし続けるつもりです。引き続きご縁を頂けたら幸いです。良いお年をお迎えください。
☆
2023-12-31 21:47:29
🙏
😍
A very happy new year to you ✨… thank you for your posts and fierce respect for teaching Sashiko✨
新年快樂🥳🥳🥳🥳
I’ve done a lot of Buddhist reading and talking about wanting to be someone else and wanting things you don’t have reminds me of the acolyte’s journey to enlightenment. “When will I be enlightened?” the learner asks, and the teacher says you will never be so as long as you ask the question. In the same way if you’re always looking for the thing that will “make you happy” you will never experience or find happiness. ❤️ It’s always within us to want what we don’t have, but it takes maturity and learning to be happy with what we see. Happy New Year.
Wishing you every good and prosperous thing in the new year. Happy New Year ❤️
Thank you for a beautiful new year message
Thank you for your philosophical insights to the Japanese Tradition and Culture. Thank you for sharing all this with us. Thank you for this very personal picture of your family life. Best wishes for a new year.🍀
Happy New Year to you and your family.
I wish you and your family happiness and gratitude.
Flor More shinnen in ours lifes
Interesting concept! 👏👏 Happy new year
🪷🙏🏼☸️🪡🧵
Thanks for sharing your Sashiko and Japanese culture. It’s very interesting to find out differences but also similarities between us all. Your photo above showing a contented domestic scene is possibly repeated many times across the world. It certainly was common in my house when my kids were growing up. It looks happy and I’m certainly happy when I craft and family around. Happy New Year and may this year be happier than the previous one.
Best wishes for this new year to you and your family