Word 073
The Katsuragi Ancient Road traces the western rim of the Nara Basin, running gently from south to north. Said to have been traveled since long before the Asuka period, the path rises and falls quietly while keeping the Yamato Plain in view.
Setting out on a summer morning, the first climb is steep and the legs are heavy. Then the ridge opens, a soft breeze comes through, and the Nara Basin spreads below. In the distant haze, Miwa, Unebi, and Miminashi — the three mountains of Yamato — stand quietly side by side.
I stopped there for a while, looking at nothing in particular. There was no need to hurry, not now.
Life is like a marathon.
When it is time to push, speed up.
When it is time to rest, slow down.
Control your own pace with balance
and run the long race of life through to the end.
You cannot run a marathon at a sprinter's pace.
If you are tired, do not be afraid to rest.
The length of the road is fixed before you begin. The only thing you can choose is how you walk it.