Lately, I've been reading a book titled "The Five People You Meet in Heaven."

The story begins at the end with the protagonist's death.

This intriguing opening made me eager to learn more about the protagonist and kept me turning the pages.

As I read, it reminded me of a viral story from a few years ago called 100日後に死ぬワニ, which translates to "a crocodile that dies in 100 days." It first appeared on X, where the creator posted one episode each day. Though it just portrayed the ordinary life of the main character, people were deeply drawn to it. I believe this was because everyone knew the crocodile would die at the end. It's fascinating how an ordinary life can suddenly feel special when we're made aware of it’s demise.

I always try to apply this mindset to my daily life, though it isn't easy and doesn’t come naturally.

It's not practical to routinely think, "Today could be my last day", but at the very least, I try to keep it in the back of my mind.

One decision I made after COVID—and one that I'm rather proud of—is visiting my mom in Fukui at least once a year. I made this commitment after deeply considering life's limits. Even though she was in her 80s, I had fallen into the habit of thinking that I could see her anytime, and in turn, had not been visiting her as much as I should.

When I calculated how many times I could realistically visit her, reality really sunk in. It was a huge wake-up call that I need to make more of an effort to spend time with her.

I may not be able to live every day as if it’s my last, but I can strive to make each day count. I want to focus on what makes life meaningful, and sometimes it’s just a kind word, a meaningful action, or simply being truly present.

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