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December 12 (Diary) “Don’t” or “Should”?

Sunny
The sun begins to set at 3 pm. From now on, the days with long nights will continue.

In order to discipline myself, I am going to “not drink and eat,” “not brood,” “not envy others,” etc. I am going to start a list of “don’ts. There are people who enumerate “don’ts” such as “don’t binge drink,” “don’t brood,” and “don’t envy others.

On the other hand, as in the famous “Four Articles of Gakki-Kiki” by Mr. Yaichi Aizu, whom I and Hideo Yoshino respect (I quote his words because they are very meaningful)

Love this life deeply.
Know thyself by looking back.
Nurture your character through learning and the arts.
Be diligent in your daily endeavors.

There are those who say, “You should.

A psychology professor once told me that it is very difficult for people to forbid themselves not to do something, and that they tend to do it because they are too conscious of it.

On the other hand, “should” is a goal, an image of what one wants to become, so by being aware of it, it becomes easier to achieve.

Which is really the best way to improve one’s character? In the past, I used to write down my goals for the year in my diary, but I think that the “musts” that I used to write down when I was younger are gradually becoming more and more like “don’t do __.

Is it because I have completed the “musts” that I set for myself, and so I have more “nots” in the branches and leaves, or is it because I have grown up as an imperfect person, and so many “nots” have become more noticeable to me?
It is a mystery.

In order to improve one’s character and live happily at the same time, is it better to raise “musts” or impose “don’ts,” or is it better to just “be” without thinking about such things that would tamper with oneself?

Well, the current trend is probably “just as you are,” but whether or not that will make you happy is a complicated topic, so I’ll leave it for another day.

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I write poetry and novels that can be read by young children. Literature is the strongest.

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