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| 白檀 / 木蓮の香立て / 共にTemu |
日曜日なので、穏やかな内容を書いています。
先日、私の住む街を歩いていたら、休日のカップルとすれ違い様に今年はボーナスが出るという話を耳にしました。
どうもこの頃の若者や青年と呼ばれる人々は、ボーナス自体のことを知らないようで、とても驚きながら嬉しそうに話しており、長い長い暗闇からやっと私達の住む国は抜け出し始めたのだと、胸が熱くなりました。
Oldman Shipという気持ちが此れなのだと、最初に教わってから何十回目かに、また思いました。
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| 白檀香 / Temu / バード・ホイッスル / Amazon |
商品を袋に詰めながら、不思議そうにでも静かに嬉しそうに、少し若々しい爽やかな上気さを頬に浮かべながら、会社の上の人に期待されているようだ、と話していました。
こういう事を書くと、自分は上手く出来ないのにと私達は思う筈、という先入観(ステレオタイプ)が私は大嫌いです。
そう沈黙で応え続けても、ううん、きっと貴方達は無理をしているのよ。有りの儘(ありのまま)の心は恥ずかしくないんだ。もっと勇気を出して。と言う変な優しい目付きで言い張られるのですが、 それは貴方達だけであって、他の人達は違うのだ、といつも胸の中で軽く肩を竦めています。
貴方達がしがみついているのは、有りの儘(ありのまま)であって、何時迄も、在りの儘(ありのまま)ではなく、単に最初から勘違いしている有りの儘(ありのまま)であって、有りの儘(ありのまま)の先に、在りの儘(ありのまま)のゴールはありませんよ。と苦笑しています。
また、有りの儘(ありのまま)って図々しいですよね。
礼儀を持ち、覚えたり、より良い最高のお手本の姿をその時その時で判断して自分で工夫していく事を、装っている、嘘をついている、見栄をはっている等、有りの儘(ありのまま)と言い張る勘違いしている人達は、口から泡を飛ばさんばかりに言い募り、そっと好きにお手本を取り入れて、好きにやっている人達を目の色を変えて見つけ出しては、
有りの儘(ありのまま)じゃないとだめ。有りの儘(ありのまま)じゃないとだめなんです。有りの儘(ありのまま)有りの儘(ありのまま)有りの儘(ありのまま)デパートの方が品が良いからデパートの方が品が良いから有りの儘(ありのまま)有りの儘(ありのまま)と言っていますよね。
貴方は何も変えなくてその自分で問題無いと言っているんですが。
私達は足りない所やその時々で必要だと判断していく進む道の途中で、色々と変えていくのですが、貴方達はそのままで何も変えずにこれが自分ですと図々しいことこの上ないんですが。
私はもうとうに立ち去った後に時々、
此の自分で十分です、と努力しない人達。
自分で素敵だなと思うことに目を輝かせて静かにしている人達の、前を向いている視野の中に勝手に後ろから飛び出して来て、大昔児童保育園の時に着ていたような格好、態度で、これこそが上質な人間なんです。と、やれているからとうに打ち捨てた、最初から興味の無い人々が未だに現在に対し更新ひとつ出来ず、有りの儘(ありのまま)の自分でこれでこのままです、
と言う人達の図々しさを、厚かましいことこの上ないと思っています。
こういう人達こそが、ボーナスというものがあるのだ、凄い、嬉しい。と喜んでいる青年達を見て、嬉しくなる私達のことを、それは貴方が歳を取ったからよ、としか考えられないんです。
私は同じ年の頃に、あまりボーナスという仕組みが存在しない仕事を人生を賭す仕事である、選択してとても充実していた、その後の私の未来を静かに照らし続ける最初の光りを見つめていたのですが、他の会社にはボーナスが当然有り、実は3ヶ月分がボーナスとして年に2回支給されるのだと知っていました。
けれどいつもその時期になると、無関係なのにどこかはしゃいだ嬉しい気持ちでいました。
きっと道が違うけれど、他のボーナスというものがある道を選んだ人達への憧れと社会というものが持つ経済という水の熱さを感じていたのでしょうね。
それは若者期の非常に重要な財産だったと今でも思います。
その後、ボーナスは常識では無くなり、3ヶ月分が当たり前だった時代も忘れられ、1ヶ月分がボーナス支給額のスタンダードになり、ボーナスという言葉も消え、長い、あまりにも長すぎる苦しい時代が私達の社会を覆いました。
仕事をして疲れた喜び、家の中で準備をしているその先のあの素敵な疲労感へ進んでいる知的で満ちた体感。
そういうものを知っていると、きっと青年でも若者でも、やはりどこかオールドマンシップなのだけれどフレンドシップである、という爽やかな凛々しいものが存在しているのでしょうね。
初夏の季節の始まりに知らずに手に入れた宝石として。
その宝石の香りは、私には、花の香りです。
それでは、素敵な日曜日をお過ごし下さい。
Temu 公式
Since it’s Sunday, I’m writing something gentle.
The other day, while walking through my neighborhood, I overheard a couple out on their day off talking about how they’d be getting a bonus this year.
It seems that young people these days don’t even know what a bonus is, and they were talking about it with such surprise and delight that it warmed my heart to think our country has finally begun to emerge from a long, long period of darkness.
It made me realize, for the umpteenth time since I was first taught the concept, that this is what the feeling of “Oldman Ship” is all about.
Even at the checkout counters of a supermarket late at night, young people who seem to have recently moved to the area—probably living in the same dormitory for the time being—are likely buying ingredients to throw a small party, all while maintaining a very polite, formal distance, as if there’s a certain coldness between them, even if it’s only temporary.
As I packed their items into bags, they spoke with a look of wonder yet quiet joy, their cheeks flushed with a youthful, refreshing glow, saying that they felt their superiors at work had high expectations of them.
The other day, while walking through my neighborhood, I overheard a couple out on their day off talking about how they’d be getting a bonus this year.
It seems that young people these days don’t even know what a bonus is, and they were talking about it with such surprise and delight that it warmed my heart to think our country has finally begun to emerge from a long, long period of darkness.
It made me realize, for the umpteenth time since I was first taught the concept, that this is what the feeling of “Oldman Ship” is all about.
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| Sandalwood / Temu / Bird Whistle / Amazon |
As I packed their items into bags, they spoke with a look of wonder yet quiet joy, their cheeks flushed with a youthful, refreshing glow, saying that they felt their superiors at work had high expectations of them.
I really hate the stereotype that assumes we’ll inevitably think, “I can’t do this well,” just because someone writes something like this.
Even if I keep responding with silence, they insist with that strange, gentle look in their eyes, “No, you’re surely forcing yourselves. There’s no shame in being true to yourself. Be braver.” But I always shrug my shoulders slightly inside, thinking, “That’s just you guys; other people are different.”
I just smile wryly and think, “What you’re clinging to is just a ‘true self’—not the ‘true self’ that lasts forever, but simply a ‘true self’ based on a misunderstanding from the very beginning. And there’s no ‘true self’ destination waiting at the end of that ‘true self’ path.”
Even if I keep responding with silence, they insist with that strange, gentle look in their eyes, “No, you’re surely forcing yourselves. There’s no shame in being true to yourself. Be braver.” But I always shrug my shoulders slightly inside, thinking, “That’s just you guys; other people are different.”
I just smile wryly and think, “What you’re clinging to is just a ‘true self’—not the ‘true self’ that lasts forever, but simply a ‘true self’ based on a misunderstanding from the very beginning. And there’s no ‘true self’ destination waiting at the end of that ‘true self’ path.”
Also, claiming to be “just as you are” is pretty brazen, isn’t it?
People who are mistaken—who insist that being “just as you are” means putting on a show, lying, or putting on airs—talk until they’re blue in the face, while those who quietly adopt role models and do as they please are hunted down with a fierce glare.
It has to be “just as you are.” It has to be ‘just as you are.’ ‘Just as you are,’ ‘just as you are,’ ‘just as you are’—you say that because department stores have better quality, right? Because department stores have better quality, you keep saying ‘just as you are,’ ‘just as you are.’
You’re saying that you don’t need to change a thing and that you’re fine just as you are.
We make various changes along the way as we identify our shortcomings and determine what’s necessary at each moment, but you lot just stay exactly the same, claiming, “This is who I am”—it’s the height of audacity.
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You can’t even understand a simple answer like, “I don’t want to imitate you.” You can’t even keep up with me as I’m answering you right now.
Long after I’ve already left,
“I’m fine just the way I am,” and make no effort to change.
I find the audacity of those who, without being asked, barge into the forward-looking field of vision of people who are quietly enjoying what they find wonderful—dressed and behaving as if they were still in kindergarten—and declare, “This is what a high-quality human being looks like,” to be utterly shameless.
I find their audacity to be utterly brazen.
It is precisely these people who, when they see young people rejoicing over bonuses—saying, “Wow, this is amazing, I’m so happy!”—and seeing us feel happy for them, can only think, “That’s just because you’ve gotten old.”
Long after I’ve already left,
“I’m fine just the way I am,” and make no effort to change.
I find the audacity of those who, without being asked, barge into the forward-looking field of vision of people who are quietly enjoying what they find wonderful—dressed and behaving as if they were still in kindergarten—and declare, “This is what a high-quality human being looks like,” to be utterly shameless.
I find their audacity to be utterly brazen.
It is precisely these people who, when they see young people rejoicing over bonuses—saying, “Wow, this is amazing, I’m so happy!”—and seeing us feel happy for them, can only think, “That’s just because you’ve gotten old.”
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| Jasmine incense / Incense burner (with a ceramic tripod base) / Both from Temu |
Around that same time, I had chosen a career where bonuses were practically nonexistent—a job I was willing to stake my life on—and I felt deeply fulfilled, gazing at what I saw as the first light that would quietly illuminate my future. Yet I knew that other companies naturally offered bonuses, and in fact, paid out the equivalent of three months’ salary twice a year.
But whenever that time of year rolled around, I’d find myself feeling a bit giddy and happy, even though it had nothing to do with me.
I suppose it was a sense of admiration for those who had chosen a different path—one where bonuses were a reality—and a feeling for the warmth of the economic currents that flow through society.
I still believe that was a very important asset during my youth.
Later, bonuses ceased to be the norm; the era when three months’ pay was standard was forgotten, and one month’s pay became the standard bonus amount. The very word “bonus” faded away, and a long—far too long—and painful era enveloped our society.
The joy of being tired from work, that intellectually fulfilling sensation of moving toward that wonderful sense of exhaustion that awaits after preparing at home.
When you know such things, whether you’re a young adult or a teenager, there must be a refreshing, dignified quality—a kind of “old man-ship” that is, at its core, friendship.
Like a gem I unwittingly acquired at the start of early summer.
To me, the scent of that gem is the scent of flowers.
Well then, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.
But whenever that time of year rolled around, I’d find myself feeling a bit giddy and happy, even though it had nothing to do with me.
I suppose it was a sense of admiration for those who had chosen a different path—one where bonuses were a reality—and a feeling for the warmth of the economic currents that flow through society.
I still believe that was a very important asset during my youth.
Later, bonuses ceased to be the norm; the era when three months’ pay was standard was forgotten, and one month’s pay became the standard bonus amount. The very word “bonus” faded away, and a long—far too long—and painful era enveloped our society.
The joy of being tired from work, that intellectually fulfilling sensation of moving toward that wonderful sense of exhaustion that awaits after preparing at home.
When you know such things, whether you’re a young adult or a teenager, there must be a refreshing, dignified quality—a kind of “old man-ship” that is, at its core, friendship.
Like a gem I unwittingly acquired at the start of early summer.
To me, the scent of that gem is the scent of flowers.
Well then, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.
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| Jasmine Scent / Temu |
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