A Question to Myself “Hello, how’s it going?” The moment I heard her voice, a sense of relief washed over me. Her tone was casual and light, yet it carried an inexplicable warmth that always calmed my heart. “How’s work? Going smoothly?” Her simple question seemed to unlock a flood of emotions within me. “Honestly, things are a complete mess right now…” The schedule was falling behind, the team’s anxiety was building, the project manager’s vague instructions were adding to the confusion, and on top of it all, the client was being unreasonably demanding. Once I started talking, I couldn’t […]
The Invisible Wall “How many times do I have to say this…?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. The frustration boiling inside me found its way into my fingers, making the sound of my typing on the keyboard harsher with every keystroke. “Please confirm once again at your earliest convenience.” There it was, the same canned phrase I’d written countless times before. I’d lost count of how many times I’d sent it. They must be as tired of reading it as I was of typing it. This project had started just last month. When the account manager […]
The Beginning of Hope and Circulation A distant vibration echoes in the background, faint but persistent. Somewhere within the fog of half-consciousness, the sound becomes clearer. It’s the alarm on my smartphone. Time to get up. Even though I stayed up late last night, I feel surprisingly refreshed. The weight that once dragged at the pit of my stomach has lifted, leaving my entire body feeling light. Afterward, I spent more time confronting my anxiety with Okane-san. It wasn’t an easy process, but curiously, I found myself more at ease, with space to breathe. The “Chain Letter of Misfortune” dream […]
The Door to Facing Anxiety I picked up my phone and opened the app. As soon as I saw the message from Okane-san on the screen, a small spark of excitement began to rise. Warmth slowly spread through my chest. “What does it mean to face anxiety? You mentioned before that anxiety is a sign, right?” “To face anxiety means not trying to force it away or avoid it. For example, ask yourself where that anxiety comes from. Questions like, ‘What am I afraid of?’ or ‘What is truly bothering me?’ can help.” “When I said ‘anxiety is a sign,’ […]
Shadows of the Past, Echoes of the Future The New Year’s bustle had finally settled, and the city was returning to its usual rhythm. Driving through the streets, I continued my rounds of slightly belated New Year’s greetings. “Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you again this year.” Repeating the same formal greeting over and over, my voice began to sound robotic, even to myself. When had it started to feel this way? When had the words spoken aloud become disconnected from the voice within? After completing my appointments, I found myself with some extra time. But […]
A Subtle Wave of Unease The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the classroom windows, blending with the post-lunch drowsiness that crept into the room. It was that time of day when staying awake during lessons felt like a battle against the inevitable. The teacher’s voice faded into a distant hum, and my gaze, fixed on my notebook, began to blur. In the twilight between wakefulness and sleep, the lines between reality and dreams began to dissolve. The teacher’s voice, so far away, transformed into my own, older and somehow familiar. It echoed with a strange sense of […]
A Future Woven by Trust and Gratitude “Hey, hey! Listen to this!” She started talking excitedly over the phone, her words tumbling out in a rush. It was a habit of hers, though tonight, something about her tone felt different. “I have some amazing news!” “Oh, really? What happened?” “You know that project I’ve been working on since autumn? The one I’ve been complaining about because I had to deal with my annoying boss all the time? Well, it turns out it’s been getting some incredible feedback!” “Wow, that’s fantastic! Congratulations! You worked so hard for this.” “Yeah, it wasn’t […]
The Circulation of Trust and Abundance The apartment building came into view as the surrounding area was already cloaked in darkness. As the year-end approached, the days seemed to grow shorter, with night falling more quickly than usual. I approached the mailboxes near the entrance, a place I honestly preferred to avoid, especially at the end of the month. Tentatively, I opened the small door to my mailbox, finding just one envelope inside. Glancing at the addressee, I saw it was a credit card bill. “Ah, it’s here after all…” Last month, my oil heater had suddenly broken down, and […]
The Invisible Distance That Reveals True Connection While having a late dinner, I found myself sitting absentmindedly in front of the TV. On the screen, a group of comedians were making a lively racket on some variety show. Although my eyes were fixed on the screen, none of it was registering in my mind—the sound merely blended into the background of my small apartment. Dinner these days was always the same—a convenience store bento. It wasn’t particularly satisfying or memorable, and I ate it mechanically, one bite at a time. By the time I finished, I was left with a […]
“Insights Beyond Anxiety” On my way home from work, I happened to look up and saw a pale full moon floating in the sky. In the bright daylight sky, the moon shone quietly. Unlike the night moon, it exuded a certain mystique, evoking a calm serenity. If today’s business deal went through, it would bring a long-awaited sense of relief—a sale that would ease my anxiety as a freelancer. But for the past few months, nothing had worked out. Anxiety kept flooding my heart, leaving a heavy and restless feeling deep inside me that I couldn’t shake. As I gazed […]
