Looking back after eight years, I’ve realized something.
One thing I’ve learned is how easily I get used to things.
The good things.
The difficult moments.
Even the most extraordinary experiences eventually become part of everyday life.
When I reread a blog post I wrote eight years ago, I found myself smiling.
I’d forgotten how deeply I had been moved by the simple beauty surrounding me.
Back then, every day in Kirishima felt extraordinary.
Perhaps that extraordinary life has quietly become my ordinary life.
And somehow…
To me, that’s a quiet warning.
It’s hard to put into words.
Living here still feels special, yet it has become so familiar that I sometimes forget just how remarkable it really is.
It’s almost like living inside a dream without realizing you’re dreaming.
Lately, I’ve simply been living my everyday life.
I’m not unhappy at all.
Maybe what I miss isn’t excitement.
Maybe what I miss is that sense of wonder.
When something extraordinary becomes ordinary, it no longer surprises you.
The scenery never changes.
Only your heart does.
I only realized this because I happened to reread one of my old blog posts.
If I hadn’t looked back, I probably never would have noticed.
Perhaps living an ordinary life isn’t such a bad thing after all.
The world seems full of difficult news these days.
The economy isn’t particularly encouraging either.
Yet somehow, I still find myself feeling grateful.
Not because life is perfect…
But because I’ve been surrounded by kind people.
And because the atmosphere of Kirishima has quietly become part of who I am.
Yesterday, I visited the local summer festival in Hinatayama.
Young and old alike were smiling.
It reminded me of the warm sense of community I remember from my childhood.
That feeling still exists here.
Simply being there is enough to make me feel at peace.
Perhaps that’s why I feel so fortunate to have met so many wonderful people in this town.
This summer, I want to breathe in as much of that happiness as I can.
The dazzling summer sky.
The warmth of the people.
The quiet rhythm of everyday life in Kirishima.
That’s how I’m spending this summer.
One more thing…
I’ve been thinking about visiting the Shinmai Potholes again.
But in the middle of summer, the grass grows so tall that it’s almost impossible to reach them.
Still…
Perhaps the wild grass is protecting this beautiful place until autumn arrives.
When the seasons change, I’m sure the scenery will reward those who return.
Kirishima is full of hidden places that rarely appear in guidebooks.
Oidezu Spring, one of Kirishima’s peaceful natural springs.
The Shinmai Potholes, where flowing water has patiently carved the rocks over countless years.
I’ve visited them before.
But I have a feeling they’ll look completely different to me now than they did eight years ago.
And somehow…
I’m looking forward to seeing them again.
出張や観光で霧島に来られた方で、
静かに過ごせる場所を探している方は、こちらもご覧ください。
