January 2, 2025: Went to Katsuoji Temple (勝尾寺) in Minoh, Osaka for my first shrine visit of the New Year. The Daruma of Katsuoji Temple is not a figure that grants wishes. By writing your wish and filling in one eye, it serves as a means to face yourself and overcome your inner weaknesses. https://tedsogo2021.blogspot.com/2025/01/january-2-2025-went-to-katsuoji-temple.html?m=1 A famous saying associated with the Daruma doll is "Fall seven times, rise eight." This phrase means "to rise again without giving up" and teaches us to cultivate true strength—the kind that allows us to overcome hardships and bounce back, even when life pushes us into difficult situations or failures. Therefore, I want to keep believing that as long as I am alive, life can always change for the better. I should avoid dwelling on the past, yearning for an uncertain future, or worrying unnecessarily. Instead, I should cherish the present and move forward with determination. I feel that the phil...
