万国津梁感で開催したチャーターセレモニーにて
首里トライリンガルトーストマスターズクラブのプレジデントとマグルビー在沖米国総領事
Toastmasters clubについて詳しくは↓
Toastmaster Japan(日本統括)
Toastmasters International
2015年05月19日
Life with Akira 2015
Life with Akira 2015
My late wife Kasumi and I realized that something was definitely wrong with our baby daughter Akira by around 3rd month since her birth.
She just could not stop crying.
All day. All night. Driving us crazy.
In the following months, doctors found that she may have something in her brain, an abnormally smaller brain at it, would not walk, talk, nor do her own things as the result, constantly need medical attention for life, despite her beautiful appearances.
It’s been 16 years since then, and she is now doing wonderful at a special senior high. I really thank God & all the people around us back in Tokyo & now in Okinawa, my second home.
Today, out of many blessings, I’d like to share with you three gifs I have been given from being Akira’s father.
The first thing is, I discovered FATHERHOOD. When the shocking news hit us, we JUST got extremely depressed. My wife stopped going out with Akira. Or going out altogether. She was too saddened and embarrassed. She passed away 2 years later. Grief and disappointment took her.
But out of this sadness a little “enlightenment” emerged. Fortunately, somehow, I found myself loving Akira despite everything. I knew darn well what normal kids of her age can do, and these options are not included in Akira’s life package. But somehow, these didn’t bother me at all. I even found I could admire any wonderfully talented kid completely without envy or jealousy while enjoying time with Akira. It felt strange at first, but it was a real mindset, and I decided to call it FATHERHOOD. And I’m glad I’ve been made in this way.
Secondly, because of Akira, I came to know many nice, exceptional people. Doctors, nurses, teachers, at schools and facilities, they are all skilled supporters, and they all are almost in love with my daughter, it seems.
Also, Akira’s former teacher Murase sensei flew in from Tokyo twice just to see her.
Naki Stapleberg, a care expert from South Africa kindly visited Akira during her stay at JICA Okinawa, and wrote about us in her Facebook.
Don Dieter, Educational VP, Oki Orators Toastmasters took me to Special Olympic games held in Kadena Airbase.
Thirdly, finally at the age of 63, I developed a sense of living together. Before Akira, I was a hardened loner, always minding my own business all the time, even after getting married. But with Akira constantly in my picture, and my wonderful partner Mariko helping us all along, I accepted that life should be better savored with people you love.
Sometimes life is too hard to be alone, but sometimes life is too good to be alone.
My late wife Kasumi and I realized that something was definitely wrong with our baby daughter Akira by around 3rd month since her birth.
She just could not stop crying.
All day. All night. Driving us crazy.
In the following months, doctors found that she may have something in her brain, an abnormally smaller brain at it, would not walk, talk, nor do her own things as the result, constantly need medical attention for life, despite her beautiful appearances.
It’s been 16 years since then, and she is now doing wonderful at a special senior high. I really thank God & all the people around us back in Tokyo & now in Okinawa, my second home.
Today, out of many blessings, I’d like to share with you three gifs I have been given from being Akira’s father.
The first thing is, I discovered FATHERHOOD. When the shocking news hit us, we JUST got extremely depressed. My wife stopped going out with Akira. Or going out altogether. She was too saddened and embarrassed. She passed away 2 years later. Grief and disappointment took her.
But out of this sadness a little “enlightenment” emerged. Fortunately, somehow, I found myself loving Akira despite everything. I knew darn well what normal kids of her age can do, and these options are not included in Akira’s life package. But somehow, these didn’t bother me at all. I even found I could admire any wonderfully talented kid completely without envy or jealousy while enjoying time with Akira. It felt strange at first, but it was a real mindset, and I decided to call it FATHERHOOD. And I’m glad I’ve been made in this way.
Secondly, because of Akira, I came to know many nice, exceptional people. Doctors, nurses, teachers, at schools and facilities, they are all skilled supporters, and they all are almost in love with my daughter, it seems.
Also, Akira’s former teacher Murase sensei flew in from Tokyo twice just to see her.
Naki Stapleberg, a care expert from South Africa kindly visited Akira during her stay at JICA Okinawa, and wrote about us in her Facebook.
Don Dieter, Educational VP, Oki Orators Toastmasters took me to Special Olympic games held in Kadena Airbase.
Thirdly, finally at the age of 63, I developed a sense of living together. Before Akira, I was a hardened loner, always minding my own business all the time, even after getting married. But with Akira constantly in my picture, and my wonderful partner Mariko helping us all along, I accepted that life should be better savored with people you love.
Sometimes life is too hard to be alone, but sometimes life is too good to be alone.
Posted by Shuri Trilingual Toastmasters Club at 21:26│Comments(0)
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