Steps: 27.434 (25,8km)
Temples: None
One of my favorite things about Buddhism is the law of karma, which states that everything you put out into the universe, be it good or bad, will come back to you. Some also call it “the law of attraction” or say things like “You reap what you sow”, “where attention goes, energy flows”, “be the change you want to see”, etc.
However you want to frame it, the law of karma urges you to take responsibility for your own happiness, by actively seeking to be a kinder and more compassionate human being.
Some might say it’s hippie bullshit, cognitive bias or superstition. But because I have Jonas with me, I don’t even have to believe in karma to know that it’s real, because I get constantly see it in effect.
It’s all the little things. Such as me making a snarky remark at Jonas and instantly tripping over my own walking stick. Or Jonas dodging a bird shit by millimeters. Or me picking up the lost headband of a henrō and seeing her again later that evening at the restaurant where I got a free ice cream.
If you have known Jonas for more than five minutes, you will know that he has the most steadfast and unwavering belief in the good of the Universe. More so than any other human I have ever met. He doesn’t just think things will be alright, he knows it, deep in his core.
Me, being the constant worrier that I am, I really envy him that sometimes. I can get to the same headspace with reason and statistics (everything has turned out all right so far after all) but I’m never able to fully eradicate the whispers of “what if”.
I’m also very grateful that I get to have him around, because it really does make for a happier life being around that kind of energy (and also, I figure, someday some of it must start to rub off on me, right?)
Anyway all of this to say, that just as it always does when I predict disaster, today turned out to be a quite a good day. When we woke up at 5.45, most of the rain had been taken off the forecast – all we had to do was sleep in a little longer, and leave our minshoku in a slight drizzle around 7.30.
Rain ponchos came on and off a lot during the day, but we never got soaked and spirits were still high as we walked into Susaki city around noon.
Susaki is known for a special kind of ramen called “Nebeyaki” which is just about the most comforting thing you can eat in a rainy day. Chicken broth with noodles, leeks and a poached egg were slurped down ferociously as our ponchos hung dripping out in front.
And, since it hadn’t stopped raining completely when we finished we also made time for a little stop at the bakery next door, for the first strawberry pie of the season (quite surreal since strawberry season isn’t until June back home).
The rain has started again outside, and will continue all through our 30k day tomorrow – but with the amount of chocolate currently residing in our backpacks, chances are we’ll survive that too.
Today when I used a restroom with no toilet paper I made sure to leave the rest of my tissues for the next person in need. After all, when shit gets real, it’s nice to have karma on your side.
Hvor er det dejligt at læse dine tanker søde Isa.
Kærlige knus fra mullemor
Af ❤️Tusind tusind TAK, for de allersmukkeste ord, der kan siges om vores dejlige søn. Jeg er dybt rørt over dine ord, og ja Jonas er et af de mest rummelige mennesker, jeg kender. Old gammel sjæl, som er sat i verden for at hjælpe dig og mig Isa ( tror jeg nok ) 😉. Heldigvis kan han osse være pisse irriterende og drillesyg, men gid der var flere af hans slags i verden, så var der ingen krig og ufred. 🙏🙏🙏 Giv har en stor krammer fra mig og tænd et lille lys for mormor. Bisættelsen foregår kl 13 på tirsdag. Mor er landet stille og roligt og alt føles godt. Don’t worry – be HAPPY 🥰🥰🥰 Hav en dejlig dag, forhåbentlig med sol og ingen regn ❤️❤️❤️ Knus Mor/svigermor