＊Story of the Reliable and Helpful Young Men＊

I'm in a panic mode.

This Honda kei van became our precious buddy since just 30 minutes after arriving on Goto Island. His name is “Hako-kun” (Hako=box). (My son is Mako-kun.)

However, on my way back from work, (it's quite refreshing to be working for someone after being self-employed for so long)

I was invited, "Hey, want to stop by for a drink?"

Being invited to "have a drink after work” also felt so new to me. (ended up having juice)

But, Hako-kun wouldn’t start upon leaving the bar.

"Oh no, what should I do? Daddy~ ."

I'm completely clueless about cars; when I'm in Canada, I leave it all to my husband if anything happens.

(When the kids were young, they used to call us "Mommy" and "Daddy," but as they grew up, the sons started to call their father "dad," and I'm the only one who still calls him "Daddy.")

Then, the young men who had been sitting next to me a moment ago and the bar master came out and gathered around Hako-kun, discussing and troubleshooting.

"It's probably the battery. " "Maybe we should push-start it. " "No, it might be faster to call my dad."

The Pub master reassured me,

"Don't worry, we'll figure it out."

I had no choice but to rely on these young men.

In the end, one of their father came to the rescue at 11 pm, and those guys all pushed the van together to push start.

The father said,

“Don’t let it stall until you get home. Well, if it stalls again, I'll come to help again."

...How kind

Living in a remote area, stalling in the middle of the road is not an option for me.

So, I made it home safely!

However, after parking in front of the house, I thought,

"I've driven for 25 minutes, and the battery should be charged."

But when I tried to start it just to be sure, the engine wouldn't turn over.

"Daddy~ !"

What should I do? I was filled with anxiety and went to bed.

"Oh, right. Maybe the car dealership where I bought Hako-kun can help."

I called the dealership first thing in the morning, and he efficiently guided me over the phone. Ultimately, he decided to come to my remote location took him 30 minutes .

In Canada, it's unlikely that a human will answer the phone so early in the morning. You navigate through a tape-recorded menu, "Press 2 for English, Press the appropriate number for your inquiry, Press the number to speak to a representative," and even after talking to a human, you're often redirected, "We'll connect you to the appropriate department," which can be a lengthy process. Reservations might even take three days.

However, during these two months on Goto Island, it seems the person who can help you actually answers the phone, making things progress at lightning speed.

I thought the issue could be resolved today if I contact them early, but it seems it wasn’t necessary to call so early (lol).

In the end, they decided to send a tow truck.

However, my location is a relatively remote area, even the local folks can’t seem to find our house.

Even though the narrow bumpy farm road is on Google Maps, why isn't the road leading to my house on Google Maps?!

The dealership was lost, and I couldn't provide good directions since I'm new to this neighborhood.

After a while, I went outside and found him there!

I apologized for the early morning and not being able to give him a direction, also the long drive in the heat, but his next words were,

"No problem. When we talked on the phone,

the sound of cicadas was really loud,

so I figured you must be near the mountains."

…Wow, so cool!

Not only he is handsome but also cool in what he said.

"I figured you'd be around here since the cicada sounds were close."

That explanation, I've never heard anything like it before, and it gave me a strong sense of nostalgia.

It's a feeling of Japanese beauty, a sense of the seasons, and a connection to nature that you wouldn't experience in Canada, or maybe even in the urban parts of Japan.

So, the story of those young men I met for the first time, who turned out to be my heroes, and the handsome car doctor who followed the sound of cicadas to my house, left me deeply moved.

I am managing somehow my eventful life on Goto Islands, thanks to the warm support of everyone,

To all those involved, truly, thank you very, very much.

There are more enjoyable days for sure.

On this island, there are so many places to see,

Even if you suddenly take a detour onto a narrow path, I think nervously,

"This definitely isn't a road for cars, it's a pedestrian path, right?"

Though it is certainly approved by Google Maps.

If I overcome that anxiety, I always ended up back on a main street.

I find myself being impressed by things

that probably aren't all that significant.

This Island,

The history is rich,

The people are kind,

Their eyes are truly beautiful and pure,

and, it's a place full of vitality.

I wonder if the local people

can see the greatness of it.

That's what I was thinking today.

to be honest, this move has been quite challenging

but I'm not backing up!

I don’t feel like I am came “back” to Japan, but rather a feeling of “immigrating” to Japan.

What's difficult is not physical strength or financial matters,

it's the mental aspect.

How to deal with this indescribable sense of loss.

In my 51 years of life, I have experienced various kinds of feelings of loss. Pets, parents, relatives, friends' deaths, parting with the piano, and more.

The feelings of loss I've experienced before come on their own, and I know I can never get them back what I lost, so I have to accept the loss and move forward.

And the sense of loss I'm feeling now is as if I've lost something I haven't actually lost.

It's there, but it's not.

My loving husband is there, but not here.

My beloved dog is there, but not here.

My established status through Reiki was there, but not here.

Dear old friends in Canada are there, but not here.

If I were to go and get them, they would be there.

The option to go back and retrieve them exists.

However, for now, going back to retrieve them is not my choice.

I am experiencing a sense of loss I've never felt before.

At first, I even thought

"I wonder what I've done. To willingly plunge into something so painful. I might be making a huge mistake. Maybe I'm insane,"

Losing what I had, not having it taken away, not failing and losing it, but I chose to step away myself, yet knowing I can have it again if I choose.

Losing success. Not having it taken away, not failing, not making a mistake, but switching it myself, resetting to zero.

Leaving a place of comfort to create a place of comfort.

Leaving a place that nurtured growth to grow further.

Letting go of achieved goals to pursue envisioned goals.

This kind of loss with choices, or intentionally letting go, might actually be a more challenging hurdle than loss through death, which lacks choices. I think.

Why did I choose this?

Because I was immersed in happiness, and before challenges could be assigned from the outside, I created my own challenges. That's one of the many reasons.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of single mothers.

Because I'm living with my child now.

I really, really admire how hard single parents work, physically and mentally to keep children happy.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of separation from a partner through divorce.

Because we're living apart now.

It must take a huge courage and a loss for a couple to make the decision.

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of solitude and uncertainty in the midst of solo journey.

I think it's really, really daunting. I want to tell the solo traveller, "Come and stay with me."

I've come to understand a little bit of the feelings of those who lost everything in disasters, how difficult it must have been for them, how they must have struggled and how did they get over it. Just a little, but I understand now.

I want to become someone who can support those who feel vulnerable.

Because I'm currently being supported, and I'm truly grateful.

I want to become someone who can tell people with dreams and goals,

“Go for it! You got this! Take it step by step, it's okay to rest, it's okay to crouch, but look ahead,"

because I understand how empowering those words can be.

Thank you to everyone, thank you.

The adventure comes with not just excitement.

There are lonely days like that,

I wanted future me to remember that feeling,

so I wrote it down honestly.

That's the story for today.

＊Back to the life near the ocean after so many years＊

Taking a break from work, waiting for my son, who works part-time at a bakery in Tomie.

He comes back and made sandwiches with bread bought from the bakery,

Saying, "Let's go to the beach!"

This,,, is happiness.

Late afternoon is just perfect.

We went snorkeling, saw little bluefish, and striped fish, in large schools, and those bumpy, bonsai-like things, are they coral?

I'll look it up later.

All the fish, they're so cute with wide-awake eyes.

Sometimes, it startles me when a big one comes.

And even though my hair is wet,

It's not cold sitting by the seaside.

Canada's midsummer lakes are colder than Nagasaki's midwinter ocean.

When I swim and come out, it's cold!

And to dry off, we collected beach glass.

It's actually really fun!

I've gotten a tan as much as I did when I was racing windsurfing in my twenties.

My friends used to tell me I'm as dark as a Mexican wooden ornament.

If I could go karaoke with this tan,

It might revive the nickname from way back when,

"The tanned Songstress, Singing tanned Princess,"

Will it make a comeback after 25 years? lol

Today, I got so obsessed with collecting beach glass that I couldn't visit Sato-no-Shio Cafe.

Last time, I discovered something called "New Moon Salt"!

They carefully simmer concentrated saltwater on the day of the new moon and infuse it with prayers to finish it.

Sato-no-Shio-san says that for the salt to be good, it's essential for the creators to be happy.

Just being around them makes me feel so happy, so if everyone in the world were to lick it, they might all become happy.

I can mail some to Canada, so if you want some, let me know

I can have another reason to visit this beach.

After the challenging month,

today's bragging was about a happy time

unfamiliar sound

Different sounds between daytime and evenings

Sound of ocean

Sound of cicadas

Sound of crickets

So bright during a day

Pitch dark in the evening

Moon looked so bright because of the darkness.

I realized that I have forgotten about such an ordinary thing.

What a chance?!

”Even a chance acquaintance is decreed by destiny.” It is a Japanese proverb means,

"The encounters and exchanges with passing strangers are not mere coincidences; they happen due to destined connections."

In early July, we decided to visit Kamakura for sightseeing. As we strolled along Komachi-dori, I heard a voice calling out, "Hmm? Could it be?!"

"Himali-san?"

It was Himali-san, someone I had met only once in Vancouver, but who had left a strong impression on me.

Back in 2011, I was performing Reiki during a fundraising event for Tsunami recovery support, and this lady suddenly appeared. She walked with a straight posture, her hair tied up in a bun high on her head, and a flowing scarf wrapped around her neck. The moment I saw her walking confidently, I thought, "Ah! I want to be friends with her!" Since then, we continued to connect.

I had just arrived in Japan from Chilliwack, and She was thoroughly enjoying her visit to Japan with her family. To unexpectedly encounter each other in Kamakura felt like it had a deeper meaning.

2nd Photo

I wanted to express my gratitude to the young woman who created the first network with me on Goto Island. So, I invited her for lunch at my place, where I used the new oven to make homemade pizza and tomato sauce pasta and chance to use the many plates that came with this house.

I'm grateful for this connection.

Inconsistent life for now

 These three photos represent the lively life on the Goto Islands.　 My life is inconsistent right now, as you can see.

- The first photo shows me starting something new, venturing openly.

- The second one shows my Reiki room in Goto, I'm always ready to begin.

- And the third one captures the moment I am being asked to help in making bento lunches at a nearby store. （lol)

***It's refreshing to hear the real Goto dialect and be called "Okazaki-san.", not "Mari".

"Don't you need a resume?" Then I realized they can confirm my identity because they know where I live.

Actually, for the past 30 years, I've been able to do personal card readings.

In fact, I've been doing this much longer than practicing Reiki.

I think many people don't know about this.

Until now, I've kept it hidden, offering readings only to acquaintances through word of mouth. But since this is quite useful, I want to introduce it openly,,, finally.

This online session is open to anyone worldwide, in Japanese or in English. However, my first customer since coming to Goto visited my new/old house, where we laid out cushions in the tatami room and offered the reading in person!

"I was surprised by how accurate you could see. I'll read it carefully and apply it in the future. Mari-san's embracing warmth was comforting. I was happy to receive such kind words with a lovely smile."

This touching feedback moved me to tears.

If you ever feel uncertain in life or have something on your mind,

please don't hesitate to reach out.

www.mariokazaki.com www.jikidenreikiwithmari.com