A quiet weekday walk through Kamakura leads me to reflect on busyness, responsibility, reward, and who ultimately decides the value of the work we do.
This morning, unusually for a weekday, I took Anne out for her walk.
Compared with the streets packed with people on weekends, there were hardly any people around.
Even Komachi Street looked almost unreal without its usual crowds.
Before six in the morning, the lotus flowers were in full bloom.
There were a few clouds in the sky, making it a comfortable morning for walking.
After walking for just under an hour, I washed away the sweat in last night’s bathwater before leaving for work.
I deeply appreciated the simple happiness of being able to soak leisurely in a bath.
At the same time, I found myself thinking about the importance of keeping water in the bathtub in case the water supply is cut off.
In any case, today will be another busy day.
So busy that I may finally understand what people mean when they say their head is spinning.
Then again, calling myself busy merely reflects my own standards.
As long as human beings are alive, they are always doing something, and there is no absolute standard by which busyness can be measured.
Even among the things we call work, some carry a great deal of responsibility, while others perhaps do not require us to feel quite so responsible.
Even walking a dog can be someone’s job.
Was my walk with Anne this morning work?
No, it was not.
Did it make me busier?
No, not really.
In the earthquake-stricken areas of Kumamoto, rescue dogs are standing by, ready to search for people.
Once called into action, they too will be risking their lives and doing their utmost.
Those dogs perform important work as well.
No one can decide uniformly how much value a particular job has.
Even the same task may hold a different value for each person, depending on how they understand it and how much responsibility they bring to it.
We are not always paid in proportion to the work we do.
But payment alone does not determine the value of that work.
Human beings question the meaning of their own existence.
When we do, work is one of the things that can give meaning to our lives.
It does not necessarily have to be something highly regarded by society.
Helping someone.
Protecting something.
Properly carrying out something we have undertaken.
How much value lies in such small acts?
In the end, we are the ones who decide.
And perhaps we are also entitled to call them work.
The value of work is not determined by reward or recognition alone, but by the meaning and responsibility we ourselves bring to it.
・・・
weekday
A day from Monday to Friday, usually considered a working day.
平日、ウィークデイ
hardly any
Almost none; very few.
ほとんどない、ごくわずか
in full bloom
At the stage when flowers are completely open.
満開で
wash away the sweat
To remove sweat by washing or bathing.
汗を洗い流す
soak in a bath
To sit or lie in bathwater for some time.
湯船にゆっくり浸かる
water supply
The system that provides water to homes and buildings.
給水、水道供給
one’s head is spinning
To feel overwhelmed, confused, or extremely busy.
目が回る、頭が混乱する
absolute standard
A fixed standard that does not depend on personal opinion or circumstances.
絶対的な基準
carry responsibility
To involve a duty for which someone is accountable.
責任を伴う
stand by
To remain ready to act when needed.
待機する
call into action
To order or require someone or something to begin working.
出動させる、行動を開始させる
in proportion to
In a corresponding or fair relationship to something else.
〜に比例して、〜に見合って
recognition
Public appreciation or acknowledgment of someone’s work or achievements.
評価、称賛、承認
carry out
To complete or perform a task or duty.
実行する、果たす
#ValueOfWork #MeaningfulWork #DailyReflections #LifeInJapan #pathologist
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