09 The Strong man
/09 The Strong man
*Colton was a boy who liked spending time with his friends.
/*Colton was a boy who liked spending time with his friends.
But he always held back a little.
/But he always held back a little.
When his friends said, “Let’s do this!” he would say “Okay,” even if he didn’t want to.
/When his friends said, “Let’s do this!” he would say “Okay,” even if he didn’t want to.
He was always afraid that saying no might make his friends dislike him.
/He was always afraid that saying no might make his friends dislike him.
One day on his way home from school, *Colton saw a man sitting alone on a park bench.
/One day on his way home from school, *Colton saw a man sitting alone on a park bench.
He looked to be in his fifties. His clothes were a bit worn, but he sat up straight and was writing something in a notebook.
/He looked to be in his fifties. His clothes were a bit worn, but he sat up straight and was writing something in a notebook.
*Colton felt curious and spoke to him.
/*Colton felt curious and spoke to him.
“Hello. What are you writing?”
/“Hello. What are you writing?”
The man looked up and smiled.
/The man looked up and smiled.
“Hello. This is my ‘realization of the day.’ Every day, I reflect on myself and write down what I felt.”
/“Hello. This is my ‘realization of the day.’ Every day, I reflect on myself and write down what I felt.”
“Wow… that’s impressive.”
/“Wow… that’s impressive.”
“What’s your name?”
/“What’s your name?”
“*Colton.”
/“*Colton.”
“People call me ‘the strong man.’”
/“People call me ‘the strong man.’”
*Colton couldn’t help but laugh.
/*Colton couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why are you called ‘strong’?”
/“Why are you called ‘strong’?”
The man thought for a moment and said:
/The man thought for a moment and said:
“Maybe because I make my own decisions and walk my own path. I don’t have many friends, but every day is fun.”
/“Maybe because I make my own decisions and walk my own path. I don’t have many friends, but every day is fun.”
“You don’t have many friends?”
/“You don’t have many friends?”
“That’s right. But having few friends doesn’t mean I don’t care about them. I have a few, but they’re precious. Living by your own thoughts without always trying to please others keeps your heart clear. That’s what it means to live strongly.”
/“That’s right. But having few friends doesn’t mean I don’t care about them. I have a few, but they’re precious. Living by your own thoughts without always trying to please others keeps your heart clear. That’s what it means to live strongly.”
*Colton was a little surprised.
/*Colton was a little surprised.
“I always go along with my friends because I’m afraid they won’t like me.”
/“I always go along with my friends because I’m afraid they won’t like me.”
The man nodded quietly.
/The man nodded quietly.
“That’s a kind heart. But if you lose yourself by always trying to please others, your heart gets tired. What’s truly important is believing in yourself and acting based on your own thoughts. To do that, you need to learn and grow. Then, even with few friends, your heart will be strong.”
/“That’s a kind heart. But if you lose yourself by always trying to please others, your heart gets tired. What’s truly important is believing in yourself and acting based on your own thoughts. To do that, you need to learn and grow. Then, even with few friends, your heart will be strong.”
Those words struck *Colton deeply.
/Those words struck *Colton deeply.
The next day at school, *Colton’s friend said, “Let’s go to the game center today!”
/The next day at school, *Colton’s friend said, “Let’s go to the game center today!”
But *Colton had something he wanted to research at the library that day.
/But *Colton had something he wanted to research at the library that day.
“Sorry, I’m not going today. I want to go to the library.”
/“Sorry, I’m not going today. I want to go to the library.”
His friend looked a little surprised, but quickly smiled and said, “Okay, maybe next time!”
/His friend looked a little surprised, but quickly smiled and said, “Okay, maybe next time!”
*Colton remembered the words of the “strong man” in his heart.
/*Colton remembered the words of the “strong man” in his heart.
“Acting based on your own thoughts—that’s what it means to live independently.”
/“Acting based on your own thoughts—that’s what it means to live independently.”
That weekend, *Colton went to the park again. The man was writing in his notebook as usual.
/That weekend, *Colton went to the park again. The man was writing in his notebook as usual.
“Hello, *Colton. What realization did you have today?”
/“Hello, *Colton. What realization did you have today?”
“I acted based on my own feelings. I realized that even if I don’t always go along with my friends, our relationship still stays strong.”
/“I acted based on my own feelings. I realized that even if I don’t always go along with my friends, our relationship still stays strong.”
The man smiled warmly.
/The man smiled warmly.
“That’s a wonderful step. Being strong doesn’t mean beating someone. It means being honest with your own heart.”
/“That’s a wonderful step. Being strong doesn’t mean beating someone. It means being honest with your own heart.”
*Colton felt his heart become lighter.
/*Colton felt his heart become lighter.
“I want to become a strong person too.”
/“I want to become a strong person too.”
“You’ve already started becoming one.”
/“You’ve already started becoming one.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
① What was *Colton’s initial struggle?
/① What was *Colton’s initial struggle?
A. Struggling with schoolwork
/A. Struggling with schoolwork
B. Holding back too much with friends
/B. Holding back too much with friends
C. Fighting with his family
/C. Fighting with his family
② What did the uncle teach *Colton about “strength”?
/② What did the uncle teach *Colton about “strength”?
A. Winning against friends
/A. Winning against friends
B. Getting along with many people
/B. Getting along with many people
C. Acting based on your own thoughts and believing in yourself
/C. Acting based on your own thoughts and believing in yourself
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
① Have you ever gone along with your friends too much? How did you feel at that time?
/① Have you ever gone along with your friends too much? How did you feel at that time?
② In what situations do you think “acting based on your own thoughts” is important?
/② In what situations do you think “acting based on your own thoughts” is important?
③ What do you want to value from now on to live strongly?
/③ What do you want to value from now on to live strongly?
