The other day, some of my former students invited me to a dinner party.
It was also a small celebration for my retirement.
We hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. I was really happy to see them again.
They had all grown into impressive adults,
but after just five minutes, it felt like no time had passed.
They showed the same smiles I remembered from their school days.
Some now work for major corporations.
Others have started their own businesses.
One is aiming to become a politician.
Another overcame a serious illness and is working hard to return to society.
Their current age is close to the age I was when I taught them.
Maybe that’s why they said things like, “Thanks to you, Sensei.”
It made me smile. People who fit well into society are often good at showing respect to others.
Talking with them was really enjoyable—maybe that’s why they are doing well in life.
What I appreciated most was that they didn’t dwell on nostalgia.
Instead, they spoke about the present and also let me talk about my present too.
President Abraham Lincoln once said:
“After 40, every man is responsible for his face.”
He didn’t mean appearance.
He meant that your face shows your personality, your way of life, and your thoughts.
I found myself wondering: How did I appear in their eyes?
I want to keep smiling with a good face until the end of my life.
和訳
先日、卒業生が飲み会に誘ってくれた。定年退職祝いも兼ねていた。
２０年ぶりの再会。うれしいものだ。みんな見事に大人になっているのだが、５分もすると違和感などまったくなく、あの時と同じ笑顔をみせていた。
大企業に勤める者、税理士として独立する者、政治家を目指している者、大病をしてそこから社会復帰にがんばっている者。
彼らの年齢が、自分が彼らと出会った時の年齢に近づいてきていたせいか、「先生のおかげで…」なんて言ってくれた。
ひねくれることなく、上手に社会に順応している人というのは、人を立てるのがうまい。話をしていて実に楽しい。だから成功しているのだろう。
「あの時は」という昔話ではなく、「今」を語ってくれ、語らせてもくれたのが、特にうれしかった。
アメリカの大統領、エイブラハム・リンカーンは「40歳を過ぎた男の顔は、自分の責任である。」と言った。この言葉は、外見そのものではなく、「人柄・生き方・考え方が顔に出る」という意味だ。
オレは彼らの目にどう映ったのだろうか？死ぬまで良い顔して笑っていたい。
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