An Old Ginkgo Tree which saved the Temple from the Fire

There is a big old ginkgo tree in Nishi Hongan-ji temple which is one of the world heritage sites. The tree is about 400 years old now. It also has a famous folklore which said that it saved the Goeido building from the great fire in 1788.

Nishi Honganji temple suffered from the fire in 1788. It is said that when the fire went close to the Goeido building, this ginkgo tree blew a lot of water on the fire to protect the building. Big thanks to this ginkgo tree, Goeido building escaped from the fire. This story became a famous folklore today.

Now we can see the famous ginkgo tree which save the temple. It is a big and a very beautiful tree. We can also enjoy its fresh leaves that turns into green every month of May and turns into yellow when November comes. This tree became a natural treasure in Kyoto city.

【大火からお寺を救った大きな銀杏の木】

世界遺産の西本願寺には、大きな古い銀杏の木があります。樹齢は約400年です。その木は、1788年の大火（天明の大火）から御影堂を救ったという有名な伝説も持っています。

西本願寺は、1788年に火災にあいます。木の手が御影堂に近くなった時、この銀杏の木が大量の水を吹いて御影堂を守ったと言われています。この銀杏の木のおかげで、御影堂は類焼を免れました。この話は、有名になり今日に語り継がれています。

今も寺院を救った有名な銀杏の木を見ることができます。それは大きく美しいです。その梢は毎年巡りくる5月には爽やかな緑になり、11月がやってくると美しい黄色になります。現在、この木は、京都市の保護樹になっています。

Self- acceptance Makes People Grow

When people already receive their good points, they can probably accept their bad points. By receiving both of that, it will help them grow.

I notice that through the session, that can bring out the hidden good points. One of my friends had my session and I found out her good points and she has a lot of it.

1)She has a lot of intellectual curiosity.

2)She is active.

3)She carries out her plan steadily.

4)She enjoys her life.

She looked happy to hear my analyzation. I asked her to write her feeling and awareness after listening to my analysis.

After writing, she realized that her active character is one of her good points but she is worried that she is sometime hyper. She works hard but she can’t have good result. Sometimes she causes troubles. She is thinking about reason why and I think it is very important to have time to introspect her own mind.

She is thinking how to improve her problem and she found a way to solve her problem.

1)Try to think a lot before taking action.

2)Think not shallowly but deeply.

3)Think her future direction.

When you pointed out bad points to people, they sometimes feel bad. So they can’t think of the things that will help them to improve their bad points. It is very important to notice their bad points by themselves and accept them. Others can only help them to improve their bad points but it is more important to improve them voluntarily.

Acceptance good points and bad points makes people grow.

Use Internet Well and Properly

I often use internet because I upload my written works into my blog. After uploading my works, I use some social network service, for example facebook and twitter. It is so useful and effective　to advertise my works. It is the reason why I often use internet.

Though it is useful and effective, it brings me some dangers. Some people who use internet aren't good people. Some of them use internet because of bad purpose, for example pyramid schemes. Also, internet dependency is very dangerous.

There are times that I focus too much or expect too much reactions from readers.  I tend to forget my purpose why I use the internet.

I concluded that I should it use it well and properly. Now, I always try to remember why I use it and that is to advertise my written works.

＜賢くインターネットを使いましょう＞（日本語訳）

私は作品をブログに投稿しているので、よくインターネットを使います。投稿した後は、facebookやTwitterなどのSNSで作品を宣伝します。自分の作品を広めるにはとても役に立ち効果的な方法です。

インターネットは役に立ち効果的ですが、危険ももたらします。インターネットを使う人のなかには良からぬ人もいるからです。マルチ商法などの悪い目的を持ってインターネットを使う人もいるからです。それにインターネット依存も危険です。

私は読者の反応にばかり注目したり、期待したりすることがあります。なぜインターネットを使っているのかを忘れてしまうことがあります。

私が結論として言えることは、インターネットを上手に適切に使うべきだと言うことです。私がインターネットを使う理由は、私が書いた作品を広く読んでもらうためだということを常に心にとめておきたいと思います。

I Hope My Writing Help People

I had an online English lesson for the first time in a while today.

I talked about my two jobs, a writer and therapist, in the lesson. They work together well. When I conduct counseling, I always find that negative thoughts make people suffer. I help them to liberate themselves from these thoughts.

After counseling, I write typical problems that makes people suffer for ones who have same problems. At that time my writing skill works well. I hope my writing help them.

I Can't Wait Until Everything Will Be Perfect.

“Don't wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” (Mark Victor Hansen)

One day I found this quote. It was when my paper book would be published soon.

I couldn't find what I really wanted to do for a long time. It was very hard for me that I lost my hope.

After long confusion, I finally grasped my dream and that is writing literature. I want to express my thoughts and feelings through writing and I also want people to read my works.

I have fallen in love with writing essays and short stories for a year and a half.

I don't know if I have talent or not. Moreover, I am not young nor famous. My condition is not perfect but I can't wait until it will be perfect.

I will continue writing my blog because it is one of the important opportunities for me to let the world know my works. I hope people would read my writings.

As I know my writings will only be improved by writing more, so I will continue to write.

I know people can't read my essays and short stories if I don't put them online.

I hope a publishing books helps people to read my works more.

I do what I can do now.

I can't wait until everything will be perfect.

What Do I Do When I Feel Depressed? ~Sleeping and Accepting Sleep~

When I feel depressed, I always do three things.

First: To take a good sleep.

Second: To eat my favorite food.

Third: To sing or to laugh.

Many friends agree with my ideas. Most of them like the first idea.

Sleep is very important. Lack of sleep causes serious health problems. I apt to be negative when I am sleep deprived.

But in Japan people believe it is good to work very hard. Many Japanese feel guilty to take a rest.

So many Japanese end up having mental illness, for example depression.

Even though they have mental illness because of overwork, they believe they should work more.

They blame themselves because they don’t work. They suffered from a sense of guilt. It defies people from overcoming mental illness.

As I’d had the depression, I know many obligations pushed me to experience feel of guilty. I rest my body but I couldn’t rest my mind.

I know the importance to accept ourselves. When I feel depressed, I remember to have enough sleep and accept myself.

“Unforgettable Valentine’s Day”

There is a strong tradition among women giving chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day in Japan. When my husband was alive, he was often given expensive chocolates by his female co-workers. Of course, I would give him expensive ones, too. We enjoyed eating expensive chocolates together on Valentine’s Day, which we never did on ordinary days.

After my husband passed away, I felt extremely lonely, especially on this day. I would always hope that it would pass quickly. I suffered all the time during those days.

One day I started yoga, and then it restored my peace of mind gradually. This activity also introduced a trustworthy yoga teacher and many yoga friends. They helped me to reduce what I felt.　

One time, when Valentine's Day was coming soon, my yoga teacher planned to hold a tea party after the lesson. It would be held on Valentine’s Day. I came up with crocheting bookmarks as Valentine presents for them. I felt very happy that I could enjoy preparing for this special day.

I finished crocheting them by Valentine's Eve. I attached message cards to each of them.

When I gave them my crocheted presents, they liked them very much. Their smiles were so memorable, and made me happy. I was able to overcome my loneliness knowing that I had some people to celebrate that Valentine’s Day with me. It was a very unforgettable day.

I think from the bottom of my heart, it is very nice that we can celebrate Valentine’s Day with people whom we love. On this day, we give love and share the love we have to those who are in need of it.