日英バイリンガル通信 No. ４０ Hiroshi Matsuoka 松 岡 博
CHANGE CAN BE DANGEROUS
“Change” is one of the key words of the new U.S. president, Barak Obama, along with “promise,” “hope,” and the phrase “Yes, we can.” The word “change” attracts you because it gives an impression that your monotonous routine will end and a new fresh world will open for you. A conservative viewpoint sounds stale and rigid, while an innovative one sounds animate and active. “Change,” however, involves risk.
“You don’t have to go to the kindergarten from today on,” my wife said to our little son the next morning after he graduated from his kindergarten. He had enjoyed the kindergarten life for three years to his heart's content. Suddenly he began to cough continuously day and night. He suffered from slight asthma. His incessant coughing lasted for many days. Wondering what was the cause of his asthma, my wife and I came to a conclusion that his abrupt end of the kindergarten caused his asthma. So, during my free time, I took him to the kindergarten and let him play in the sandbox and on the swing and talk with the rabbits the kindergarten kept. He enjoyed the visit very much. One day, luckily, he happened to meet the principal and talked with her. My son was very happy. After several visits, he gradually restored himself, and became healthy and active like a playful young child. This way, he recovered from his asthma.
I had a similar experience when I retired from teaching after 43 years in high school. In April, the month after my retirement, I became sick. Just climbing six or seven steps or walking for only ten minutes or so made my heart beat fast. Also, I had difficulty breathing and was easily exhausted. This condition lasted for two weeks. I went to a hospital and had electrocardiography and echocardiography. The result was that nothing was wrong with my heart. About a week later, my heart became normal. It took me about a month to be accustomed to a new retired life.
“Change” may sound fascinating, but drastic change can cost you your health. I prefer “gradual” to “sudden” change.
熱湯や 蛙飛び込む 大やけど
a boiling hot spring
a frog jumps into,
hot, hotter, TOO HOT!
CHANGE CAN BE DANGEROUS
“Change” is one of the key words of the new U.S. president, Barak Obama, along with “promise,” “hope,” and the phrase “Yes, we can.” The word “change” attracts you because it gives an impression that your monotonous routine will end and a new fresh world will open for you. A conservative viewpoint sounds stale and rigid, while an innovative one sounds animate and active. “Change,” however, involves risk.
“You don’t have to go to the kindergarten from today on,” my wife said to our little son the next morning after he graduated from his kindergarten. He had enjoyed the kindergarten life for three years to his heart's content. Suddenly he began to cough continuously day and night. He suffered from slight asthma. His incessant coughing lasted for many days. Wondering what was the cause of his asthma, my wife and I came to a conclusion that his abrupt end of the kindergarten caused his asthma. So, during my free time, I took him to the kindergarten and let him play in the sandbox and on the swing and talk with the rabbits the kindergarten kept. He enjoyed the visit very much. One day, luckily, he happened to meet the principal and talked with her. My son was very happy. After several visits, he gradually restored himself, and became healthy and active like a playful young child. This way, he recovered from his asthma.
I had a similar experience when I retired from teaching after 43 years in high school. In April, the month after my retirement, I became sick. Just climbing six or seven steps or walking for only ten minutes or so made my heart beat fast. Also, I had difficulty breathing and was easily exhausted. This condition lasted for two weeks. I went to a hospital and had electrocardiography and echocardiography. The result was that nothing was wrong with my heart. About a week later, my heart became normal. It took me about a month to be accustomed to a new retired life.
“Change” may sound fascinating, but drastic change can cost you your health. I prefer “gradual” to “sudden” change.
熱湯や 蛙飛び込む 大やけど
a boiling hot spring
a frog jumps into,
hot, hotter, TOO HOT!
チェンジは危険かも
「チェンジ」は、「約束」「希望」「我々はできる」という言葉とともに、オバマ米国新大統領のキーワードの一つだ。「チェンジ」と言う言葉は、マンネリから抜け出して新しい世界に入るような印象があるため、魅力的だ。保守的な考えは停滞的で頑固だが、革新的な考えは動きがある。でも「チェンジ」はリスクを伴う。
卒園式の翌日、「今日から幼稚園に行かなくてもいいよ」と私の女房が幼い息子に言った。息子は幼稚園生活を３年間百パーセントエンジョイしていた。それが、急に毎日咳き込むようになり、軽い喘息にかかってしまった。矢継ぎ早の咳が昼も夜も続き、女房と私は何が原因だろうと考えた。二人の結論は急に幼稚園に行かなくなったからだ、ということになった。それで、私は暇なときに息子を幼稚園に連れて行った。息子は喜び、砂場で遊び、ブランコに乗り、幼稚園で飼っている兎と話をした。ある日、運よく園長先生に会って話をすることができた。息子は喜んだ。数回幼稚園に行くうちに息子は次第に体調を回復し遊び盛りの男の子のように元気になった。このようにして息子は喘息から立ち直った。
私にも似たような経験がある。４３年間の教職を退職した翌月の４月に、私は体調を崩してしまった。階段を６、７段上がるだけで、１０分ぐらい歩くだけで、心臓の鼓動が激しくなった。また呼吸がしんどくなり、疲れやすくなった。この状態が２週間続き、病院に行って心電図と超音波心臓検査をしてもらった。結果は「異常なし」だった。一週間後、私の心臓は平常に戻った。退職生活に慣れるのに一ヶ月かかったのだ。
「チェンジ」はいい響きがあるが、激変は健康を害しうる。私としては、「ゆるやかな」チェンジの方が、「急激な」チェンジより身体に合う。
