New Year’s Resolutions and Goals 2025
Happy New Year!
I stayed away from social media for the first week of the New Year, so I want to send you my New Year’s greetings now.
Wishing you everyone 2025 filled with prosperity, joy, health, vitality, and *Ikigai!!
*Ikigai (生き甲斐）is a Japanese abbreviation for the expression Ikirukaigaaru (生きる甲斐がある) “It’s worth living,” and it means feeling the joy and vitality of living.
My Ikigai for New Year’s Day has been going to see New Year’s Sunrise.
New Year Sunrise in 2024
I started around 1992, so it is a ritual that has been around for about 33 years.
There is a New Year proverb in the Japanese:
一年の計は元旦にあり- Ichinen no kei wa gantan ni ari
Free translation: “New Year’s Day is the year’s key!”
The proverb’s direct meaning is that The year’s plan is made on New Year’s Day.
Unlike in Japan, there is nothing special about New Year’s Day here, so I started going to see the first sunrise of the year, which made me feel refreshed as I approached the New Year.
I once saw the New Year’s Sunrise in Izu, Japan, with my mother. We saw the most amazing New Year’s Sunrise together. I am so glad that I was able to do with my mother before she passed. The trip we did together was unforgettable in my heart.
The 2025 New Year sunrise time in Santa Monica was at 6:59:
It was so foggy and cold when we left home that I had to wear many layers of clothes. When we hiked up the Santa Monica mountain, we were over the fog, and we could see a beautiful horizon line.
We took our dogs, Kai, Lani and Makani. Our friend, Angel, who helps my garden, came with us.
It was much warmer than the last few years, which was so cold and windy.
Once we got to the top, we looked all over – a slite orange color was already on the horizon, so we knew where the New Year Sunrise was coming up.
Other people were there, but I loudly expressed, “Arigatou・Thank you!” from the bottom of my heart. I felt happy to be able to express my gratitude.
I asked Eric and Angle about their New Year “resolution” while waiting for the New Year Sunrise.
Angel said he wanted to do more dancing.
He shared that he started to take a dancing lesson, so I thought it was ballroom dancing, so I said immediately, “What dancing lesson? Is it ballroom dancing?” Angele is a quiet, shy guy and ceramic artist, so I could not imagine that he would dance especially ballroom dancing.
He smiled and said, “Oh, no, no, Hip-hop dance.” I said, “Wow, that’s great!” He said, ” I want to be more active and was thinking of taking a dance lesson, so I took a few last year. I liked it, so I want to continue.” I thought, I want to see him dance one day!
Eric said’ “More free time!” I am sure he meant to spend his free time surfing in the ocean since he helps our animal family and me so much every day. I said, “That’s a great idea, Eric, so let’s think about how you can get more free time and make a plan.”
Angel said, “It is important to have time for yourself since you are very busy.”
I also said, “Mine is go to physical therapy to strengthen my left knee.”
I was glad we could exchange our resolution together in a great place. After talking, I felt refreshed, and simultaneously, the year’s first sunrise rose.
I thought we might not see New Year’s Sunrise when I left home due to the fog, but it was spectacular.
The 2025 New Year Sunrise came up to promise to achieve the resolution we made.
On the way down the mountain, we saw the fog, almost marshmallows laid out all over Santa Monica to the south side to Perlos Verdesand and the east side to downtown Los Angeles.
It was a mysterious feeling to go back down there.
After we came back home, we ate our New Year Mochi Ozouni. I started to write my resolutions and goals.
As I said, my resolution for 2025 is “Go to physical therapy to strengthen my left knee.”
Because I broke my left knee five years ago while I was hiking.
It took two years to heal, and then about one year ago, my neighbor’s dog attacked my dog, Nalu, and me. I injured the same knee and right shoulder. The shoulder got better with therapeutic massage and acupuncture, but the knee is still not fully healed, so I knew I had to do the next step. I believe holistic with a plant-based approach comes to healing, so I do not use any Western medication most of the time, but I do know when to use the Western approach, so I went to see my new primary doctor and discuss my left knee. She was a young doctor, and before I told her my thoughts, she checked my knee and said right away, since your knee is not broken this time, and you need to strengthen the knee, so go to physical therapy.
My goal for 2025 is to fully heal from knee injuries and be physically active. I have started going to Qigong class twice weekly in the morning at a park since last summer, which has also helped me greatly.
I walked two blocks to the park and back, which also helped my heart to be active.
As I was writing this, I also wanted to make my goal for 2025 a more straightforward way to communicate with Eric and remind him at the same time.
One thing I can do is create our monthly calendar and write plans for my needs and also our rendezvous plan there.
I also realized that resolutions and goals are different, so I decided to write about them.
So, here are my New Year’s resolutions and goals for 2025:
My 2025 Resolutions and Goals
Resolution 1: Go to physical therapy to heal my knee in three months.
(The key point is three months)
Goal 1: To be pain-free and get strength.
Resolution 2: Walk 1 ~2 miles daily and continue to Quigong class.
(The key point is 1 ~2 miles daily)
Goal 2: More socialize with people.
Resolution 3: Make a monthly communication calendar with Eric and write a plan on the calendar.
(The key point is monthly)
Goal 3: Simplesize communication with Eric, meditating, and doing other things with him more.
Resolution 4: Teach a workshop/class that allows me to relax mentally without exhausting my physical energy.
(The key point is teaching without exhausting my physical energy)
Goal 4: Teaching, which I enjoy, and connecting with people.
Resolution 5: Write every day, even only for a short time, and will finish writing my recovery book by the end of this year. (The key point is every day, even for a short time and finish this year)
Goal 5: Finish my recovery book.
A resolution is a statement of what you want to change/do (Action).”
within a time frame. See what I wrote above as the key point.
A goal is a statement of what you want to achieve, and resolution is the steps you need to take to achieve it, and when you want to achieve it.
The resolution is a word that refers to the determination or plan that you have in your heart. Rather than simply wanting to do 〇〇 or become 〇〇, think about what you will do concretely to achieve those desires. By setting resolutions, your goals and objectives will become more apparent.
Resolutions are different from goals. A goal is a goal that you strive for, and the process of getting there doesn’t matter. On the other hand, resolution includes both goals and the process to achieve them.
Chinese New Year, Nine Star Ki New Year is not January 1st, so you have time to write your resolution for 2025 and achieve your goal.
You can write first:
・Write down your concerns and issues
・Think specifically about your ideals
・ Set specific numbers and deadlines
I wish you luck for 2025.
Love,
Sanae ❤️
ひと針ひと針自分の人生を縫う-刺し子ストリー
2024年が終わろうとしている。
この 年は自分にとって行き詰まりを感じ、前に進めなくて、振り返って見て挑戦的な年だった。
しかし、この立ち止まった状態こそが、次のステップに進むために必要な時間なのだと学んだ収穫の年。
もちろん、今はこう書けても、簡単なことではなくって、イライラしたり、悲しくなったり。
しかし、そのおかげで、自分の感情を大切に見つめ、毎日を静かに過ごし、たとえ気分が不安定なときでも、感謝の気持ちを持つ練習がまたできた。とにかく私は自分の感情を観察し- 息を吸ったり吐いたり瞑想。
自分のあんまり好きじゃないところを見てあげる、それは私にとって大切な事。
ある日、小学校の頃、ミシンで自分のお洋服とかいつか作れたらいいなと想像していた事を思い出した。
それはあけみちゃんと言うとってもチャーミングでオシャレなクラスメイトが、
いつもお母さんが作ってくれた素敵なお洋服を着ていたから。
うちの家族は誰もアートやクラフィティーな事をする人はいなかったにも関わらず、自分の手で何かを作ること、少し絵を描いたり、ガーデニング、書道、かぎ針編み、版画などに惹かれて、刺繍を気が向くとしていた。
ミシンの使い方をマスターして、あけみちゃんが着ているような可愛くておしゃれなお洋服を作りたかった。
その頃、家庭科のクラスでミシンを使ってパジャマを作る課題があって頑張るぞって誓ったけど、買ってもらったミシンは学校のと違ってて、１０歳の私には使い方を教えてもらわないで使う事は簡単ではなくって、壊してしまった。
その時に大きな声で怒鳴られて叱られてしまった事が原因でミシンを使ってみる自信をなくし、自分はお裁縫は無理だと決めた。
その後は手で作るもの、編み物や織物を覚えて楽しんでいたけど、２０１７年に近所にお裁縫学校があると知りミシンを使ってパンツを縫うクラスに参加してみた。パンツはミシンで縫えて出来上がったけど、あんまり気持ちは盛り上がらなかったのは何故だったのか。ミシンを使う事はあんまり自分には向いていないのかもとわかった。また、壊すかもという恐怖、それと音が気になった。
お料理ではフードプロセッサーを使うよりすり鉢とすりこぎで胡麻をする方が私の性分にあってるという事かもしれないと同じかも。
日本の伝統刺し子を縁があってするようになって手縫いでチクチクゆっくりひと針ひと針進めていくほうが時間はかかっても確実で自分に合っているとわかった。
パンディミックの時、コロナにかかって毎日、刺し子を刺していて気持ち的に助かったのも覚えてる。
フランス刺繍を小学校以来してなかったけど、今年は草木染めの糸で刺繍の大作を仕上げて手で縫う事の喜びと楽しみ方があらためてわかった。
これは、１９９３年に卵巣癌になる前に生きていた私には、考えられない。あの頃の私はスキューバーダイビング、スカイダイビングとかしてあっちこっちに行っていた。マクロビオティックの食養で卵巣癌が治ってからはマクロビオティックをもっと勉強して、マクロビオティック講師になって、またあっちこっちと行くようになった。それから、２００１年の臨死体験をするようなひどい車の事故で寝たっきりの私。歩行も出来ないと言われて車椅子生活。
そのおかげで座っていてもできる事をして喜びと楽しみを学んだ。
座ってゆっくり手縫いの刺し子、お裁縫をするなんて、このチャレンジがなかったらしていなかったかも。
２０１７年にリンパ腫のステージIV診断を受け、余命は１ヶ月もないと
ドクターに言われてもなんとかなるように思えたのは、自分の人生をひと針ひと針ゆっくり手で縫うかのように生きるという事を体験してこられたから。
こうしていろんなチャレンジがある中で、自分の肉体と気持ちの変化を受け入れてできる事を少しづつでもやっていける安らかな気持ちが持てる事に感無量。
ミシンを壊した時からこの生き方に進んでいくよう計画されていたのかもと最近はふと思いながら、人生はアニチャ・無常。
一呼吸一呼吸を観察し、刺し子をしながら一針一針自分の人生を縫うように生きていく。
2025 年の巳年に向けて、みなさんのご活躍、聡明なご発展とそして幸に満ちた年となることをお祈り申し上げます。これからもみなさんの癒しをささやかでもサポートできると幸いです。
Love,
Sanae 
追伸：初めて刺し子のワークショップを日米文化会館（JACCC）で来る新年１月２６日（日）に教えさせていただける事になりました。感謝の気持ちでいっぱい。
https://jaccc.org/events/sashiko-basics-introduction-workshop-for-beginners/
Live Life One Stitch at a Time
End of 2024.
I reflected on this year of 2024 as challenging since I felt stuck and not moving forward for me.
However, this was a fruitful year in which I learned that this state of standing still is the time necessary to move on to the next step.
Of course, even though I can write this now, it was not easy, and I got irritated and even sad.
But it allowed me to cherish my feelings, spend each day quietly, and do what I could with gratitude even when my moody feelings were elsewhere. I observed my emotions – breathing in and out, meditating.
It was important to me to see the things I didn’t like about myself.
I lost interest in many things but somehow wanted to hand-stitches.
What is my attraction for wanting to hand-stitches?
One day, I remember when I was in elementary school, a classmate named “Akemi”-chan （a charming classmate）always wore fashionable clothes made by her mother. I dreamed of being able to make my own clothes since my mother was not crafty.
No one in my family did anything like art or crafty, but I have been attracted to making something since I was six years old with my hand, gardening, Japanese calligraphy, crocheting, “hanga” wood print, and embroidery.
I really wanted to master using a sewing machine and make cute, fashionable clothes like Akemi-chan was wearing.
Around that time, a home economics class assignment was to make pajamas using a sewing machine. I was excited and asked my mother to buy one, but the sewing machine she bought me was different from the one at school, and as a 10-year-old, I used it without guidance and broke the machine.
My mother scolded me. I felt so bad and lost confidence in using the sewing machine.
I never wanted to use a sewing machine anymore, but I have continued to enjoy making things with my hand: weaving, knitting, and crocheting.
In 2017, I found a sewing class in my neighborhood where you could sew pants using a sewing machine, so I decided to try it. I finished sewing the pants and got a sewing machine, but I didn’t feel very excited about it.
Why?
I think, I was still scared that I might break it again.
Also, I did not like the mechanical sound.
It might be the same as preparing sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle, but it suits my personality better than using a food processor when cooking.
I continued hand stitching Sashiko (traditional Japanese embroidery) more and enjoyed it very much.
It fits in my lifestyle and quietness.
I realized that whenever I felt stuck, I stitched.
When I got COVID-19 and after a neighbor’s dog attacked one of my dogs, Nalu and me, I was feeling blue.
Moyouzashi Sashiko I did while I had Covid.
This year, I also completed a masterpiece of embroidery, which I had not done since elementary school. It was using natural dye threads. I learned more than ever the joy and enjoyment of stitches by hand.
I embroidered my signature.
It is unthinkable for me, who was so active and did not have time to sit for a long time before I got ovarian cancer in 1993. At that time, I was going all over the place doing things like scuba diving and skydiving.
After I recovered from ovarian cancer, I started studying and teaching macrobiotics and started traveling here and there again.
Then, in 2001, I was left bedridden after a near-death car accident.
The doctor diagnosed I couldn’t even walk and would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Before the car accident, I went to a ceramic studio two or three times a week but could not do it anymore.
I had to learn to find joy and enjoy my life by doing things I could do while sitting in my wheelchair.
Without this challenge, I might not have been able to sit down and slowly hand-stitchche Sashiko and write my books and blogs.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma and was given less than a month to live.
I was shocked to hear I got another cancer. I knew I was grieving losing my precious service dog, Kula, and my husband and I had closed our Seed Kitchen restaurant six months before. I was extremely exhausted from eight years in the restaurant business.
At the same time, I felt it was time to initiate my life again connection with myself; otherwise, I would have lost it. I slowed down and found even a moment of joy each day with myself when I was taking chemotherapy.
One of the things I found is how to live by creating my hand and making something I can enjoy and share with others.
Amid all these challenges, I am overwhelmed by the peace of mind that allows me to accept the changes in my body and mind and do what I can little by little.
Lately, I’ve been thinking that maybe it was planned for me to lead this way of life ever since I broke the sewing machine my mother bought, and my life is annica and impermanent.
Embroided and Sashiko stitched over my eco-print fabric on my 30 years old pillow case fabric.
I observe my breath one breath at a time and do Sashiko as I live my life one stitch at a time.
Sashiko stitched with Sakura (cherry blossom) dye thread and created booties.
As we move into the Year of the Snake 2025, I wish everyone a year filled with wisdom, growth, and good fortune.
I hope to support your healing continuously, even in a small way.
Love,
Sanae❤️
P.S. I am grateful to be able to teach my first sashiko class at Japanese American Culture Community Center (JACCC).
https://jaccc.org/events/sashiko-basics-introduction-workshop-for-beginners/
Rice stitches.
ミラクル・奇跡
年末年始のホリデー・シーズン。
アメリカでは年末のクリスマスに奇跡が起こると言われています。
私の好きな言葉の一つ「人生には 2 つの生き方があります。1 つは、何も奇跡ではないかのようにすることです。もう 1 つは、すべてが奇跡であるかのように生きることです。」 アルバート・アインシュタイン、1879~1955
今年もいくつかのの奇跡があったので。
私の家で起こったこのクリスマスの奇跡をシェアー。
12月6日、犬の家族といつもする散歩後、最年長の犬のルミが心臓の動機がひどくなって、呼吸が激しくなり、全く動けなって私にできることは、彼女のそばにいて、アニマル霊気、彼女の心臓と肺のツボへの経絡指圧、そしてバッチフラワーレスキューレメディを5分ごとに4滴投与することだけでした。
ルミにとても懐いている末っ子犬、マカニは、ルミの隣に来て一緒に見守ってくれてた。
ルミは動けないでいたけど、全力を尽くしてた。
エリックにビデオコールしてエリックの声を聞かせてあげたら。
ルミはエリックお父さんを待つと言ったが、ルーミは電話の後心臓発作を起こし、失神し 意識を失った。
彼女の目は開たまま、どこにも焦点がなく私の言動には何も気づきかに泣いでいた。
ルミは来月で15歳になるので、もうこれが最後かと思わずにはいられなかった。
(2年前のルミの13歳の誕生日に彼女がどのようにして私の人生に現れたのかについてブログに書きました。）
私自身が呼吸をして落ち着いて、過去 30 年間に約 20匹 の動物の家族を育て、動物レスキューボランティアーなどで多くの動物の救助を手伝ってきて学んだ事を思い出してできる事をしてあげた。
奇跡的にルミは数時間後に意識を取り戻した。
でもまだ息が荒く、まったく動くことができなかったので、ルミにコミュニケーションして「もしルミが天国に行くなら、私は心に準備をするね。」と伝えました。
するとルミは「マミー、私はまだここにいるよ。どこにも行かないよ。パパを待ってるよ。」と言って少し楽になったようだった。
エリックが帰宅したとき、ルミは弱っていましたが、目で自分の存在をエリックに伝えていたのを見て彼女の生命力の強さに感動。
ルミは何も飲むことも食べることもできなかったので、私たちは彼女のために治療用の飲み物と流動食を作ってあげた。ルミは両方とも少しずつ摂取してくれた。
ルミが飲み物と流動食を摂った後、ルミに気持ちを聞いたら、返事に少し時間がかかったけど、「何が起こっているか分からず息もできなくて怖かったよ。」とルミは答えてくれた。
それで私は、「そうだようね、怖かったね。でももう大丈夫だからね。
マミーはどこにも行かないでルミのそばにいるよ。」と言ってあげたら、そして彼女はゆっくりと目を閉じ、呼吸が少し落ち着いて眠った様子だった。
ルミは生死を彷徨ってトランジション期を経て良くなるために最善を尽くしているので、恐怖とトランジション期のためのバッチフラワーレメディを混ぜて作り、15分おきにルミの周りにスプレーしてあげた。
リビングルームの床の彼女の隣に私用のベッドを作って彼女と一緒に床で寝ることにした。 最初の夜は私の手が彼女から離れると呼吸が激しくなるので一晩中、動物
霊気をしてあげてたら少しだけ寝てくれた。
おしっこやうんちをしなければならない場合に、彼女が横になったままできるように、私はおむつを付けてあげたけどルミは真夜中にどうしても起き上がろうとして、その度に呼吸はひどくなった。
でもルミは頑固でおむつを使いたがらないようでどうしたらいいか分からなくなったけど、よく考えたらきっと私がルミなら同じかもと彼女の気持ちがわかったので、今、私がルミにできることは何と考えて、彼女を抱いて庭の外に連れて行った。
その時ルミは息がすごく荒くなり、心臓が高鳴って、私にも聞こえるほどだったので、ルミの心臓が止まるかもしれないと恐怖でいっぱいになった。 ルミを外に抱いて行った自分を責め始め目の前が真っ暗になって、目を閉じたら、その心臓の音は自分の心臓の音でもあるとわかった。それで深呼吸して目を開けると、一生懸命、おしっこする場所を探しているルミの姿が目に入ってきて、ルミはこんな時でも頑張っているんだと伝わってきて、泣き言とかは無視してとにかく今は私ができる事を全力で応援するしかないと実感。
私は急にルミをやさしく抱きしめて、「マミーはルミと一緒だよ。愛してるよ。」と言えた。
するとルミの心臓の鼓動少し静かになり、おしっこをし終えて、ルミの目が家の方を見ていたので、抱っこして、家の中に連れて行ってあげた。
その後も２回もルミは外に行きたいと言うので同じようにしてあげて、やっと明け方彼女はぐっすり眠れたようだった。私は、無駄なことは考えないでただ”愛”を持って彼女にできる事をしてあげられた事に感謝。
ホリスティック獣医師のレーン医師に連絡しましたが、ホリデーシーズンで連絡がつかなかったので、翌日、サンタモニカ・ホメオパシー薬局の動物治癒の専門家であるナンシーにルミの状態について電話で話してエリックにホメオパシーの治療薬をとりに行ってもらった。
私たちは心臓の治療薬を手に入れ、水は解決し、彼女にBBach Flowerを与え続けました。動物レイキと正中点鍼治療を継続して行いました。
ルミはレーン医師によって既に心雑音と診断されていたので、そのための漢方薬とホメオパシー薬を服用中。今回のこのエピソードの後、今年2月に亡くなったルミの娘のハッピーのように、肺や心臓に水分が溜まっている可能性があると私は察して、ルミも肺に問題を抱えていると感じたので、ルミに体のバランスを整えてもらうことに決めました。輸液ホメオパシー医療をより適切に配布。
ルミの健康状態を、あらゆるレメディ、ホメオパシー医学、癒しの食べ物、そして私たちの愛によって改善する努力をする決心をした。
それはルミがまだ生きる意志を強く持っているから。
その彼女の意思と私たち家族全員にできる努力で、ルミは今では朝の大好物、柔らかいお餅を食べてホームメイドの食事も自分で食べられるようになっている。
ゆっくりだけど自分で歩いて庭の外に出られるようになっている。少し散歩にも行きたいという気持ちもこの前してくれたので、２回ほどほんの短い散歩もした。疲れるとルミは前進しないで戻ろうとするのでその彼女の意思を尊重して直ぐ家に戻った。
クリスマスの日にルミが海を見たいというので連れて行くことにした。
ルミはいろんな人々にご挨拶をして、砂の上に寝転がり、風を感じることを楽しんだ。帰りは少し疲れたようでルミは砂の上では動かなくなって私が抱っこしてあげたら歩道は自分で歩いてたくさんの匂いを嗅いで満足したそうだ。
このブログを書いている今も、ルミは私の足元でマカニとぐっすり眠っていて写真を撮ろうとしたらマカニは顔をあげた。
それはクリスマス・ミラクル！
新年に向けて、みなさんも奇跡の瞬間を見つけていただければ幸いです。
Love,
Sanae ❤️
＊おまけ：
犬の心雑音について
心雑音のある犬は、一時的な意識喪失である失神と呼ばれる発作のような現象を経験することがあります。
この失神は、犬の心臓が十分な量の酸素を含んだ血液を脳に送り出すことができない場合に発生することがあります。これは、異常な心拍リズムまたは不整脈によって引き起こされる可能性があり、不整脈は非常に速い、非常に遅い、または不規則になる可能性があります。失神は発作のように見えることもありますが、いくつかの重要な違いがあるそうです。
Miracle 2024
The year-end holiday season.
In America, it is said that miracles happen during the year-end holidays- Christmas.
One of my favorite quotes is, “there are two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. the other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein, 1879~1955
Several miracles happened this year as well.
I want to share with you about a Christmas miracle that happened in my house.
On December 6th, after my usual walk with my dog family, my oldest dog, Lumi, developed a severe heart attack, was breathing heavily, and couldn’t move at all. All I could do was stay by her side.
I applied Animal Reiki, meridian acupressure on her heart and lung pressure points, and administered four drops of Bach Flower Rescue Remedy every 5 minutes.
The youngest puppy, Makani, who is very attached to Lumi, came next to Lumi and watched over her.
Lumi couldn’t move, but she was doing her best.
I video-called my husband, Eric, and let Lumi hear his voice.
Lumi said she would wait for Eric’s father to come home, but Lumi passed out after the call.
Her eyes remained open, unfocused, and unaware of my words and actions.
Lumi turns 15 next month, so I couldn’t help but think this was her last moment.
(Two years ago I wrote a blog about how Lumi came into my life on Lumi’s 13th birthday.)
I took a deep breath, calmed down, remembered what I had learned from raising a family of about 20 animals over the past 30 years and helping many rescue animals as an animal rescue volunteer, and did what I could.
Miraculously, Lumi regained consciousness several hours later.
But she was still breathing heavily and couldn’t move at all, so I communicated with Lumi and told her, “If you need to go to heaven, I will mentally prepare.”
Then Lumi said, “I am still here, Mommy. I am not going anywhere; I would wait for Daddy.”
When Eric came home, Lumi was weak, but she was happy to see him and show the strength of her life force and her presence through her eye movement.
Lumi couldn’t drink or eat anything, so we made her therapeutic drinks and liquid food. Lumi took a little bit of both.
After Lumi had the drinks and food, she seemed calm. I asked Lumi how she felt, and although it took a while for her to respond, she answered, “I didn’t know what was going on, and I couldn’t breathe, so I was scared.”
So I said, “Yeah, it was scary, but it’s okay now. You are still with us.”
I won’t go anywhere and will stay by your side. ” Then Lumi slowly closed her eyes, her breathing calmed down much more, and she fell asleep.
Lumi was going through living and dying and is trying her best to get better through the transition period, so I made a mixture of Bach Flower Remedies for Fear and Transition and sprayed it around Lumi and over her pows every 15 minutes.
I decided to make my bed next to her on the living room floor and sleep on the floor with her.
The first night, she breathed heavily when my hands left her, so I gave her Reiki or a gentle rub, and then she fell asleep for a little while.
I put a diaper on Lumi so she could lie down if she needed to pee or poop, but Lumi kept trying to get up in the middle of the night, and her breathing got worse every time.
But Lumi was stubborn and didn’t want to use diapers, so I didn’t know what to do. When I thought about it, I realized that if I were Lumi, I might be the same, so I thought about what I could do for Lumi. I picked her up and carried her outside the garden.
At that moment, Lumi was breathing very heavily and her heart was beating so fast that I could hear it, and I was filled with fear that Lumi’s heart might stop beating. I started blaming myself for taking Lumi outside, and when I closed my eyes, I realized that the sound of that heartbeat was also my own. So I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I saw Lumi trying her best to find a place to pee, and I could tell that Lumi was doing her best even in times like this, so I told myself to ignore my whining. The only choice I had was to do everything I could to support Lumi.
Suddenly, I gently hugged Lumi and said, “I’m with Lumi. I love you!”
Then, Lumi’s heartbeat became a little quieter, and she found a place to pee and was looking toward the house, so I carried her back inside.
After that, Lumi asked twice to go outside, so I did the same thing for her, and at dawn, she seemed to be able to sleep soundlessly.
I was able to do what I could for her, just out of love, without doubt, or worry thinking.
I contacted Dr. Lane, a holistic veterinarian, but she was unavailable due to the holiday season, so the next day, I called Nancy, an animal healing specialist at Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy, to discuss Lumi’s condition, and Eric got some homeopathic medicine.
Lumi had already been diagnosed with a heart murmur by Dr. Lane and has been taking herbal and homeopathic medicines for that purpose. After this episode, I suspect that Lumi may have fluid buildup in her lungs and heart, just like Lumi’s daughter Happy, who passed away in February this year. That’s why I decided to have Lumi balance out fluid in her heart and lungs.
We got heart medication, the fluid resolved, and we continued giving her Bach Flower, animal Reiki, massage, animal communication, and meridian point acupuncture with moxibustion.
We decided to try to improve Lumi’s health through all remedies, homeopathic medicine, healing foods, and our love.
Lumi still has a strong will to live.
Lumi’s health condition has been improving.
Thanks to her determination and our family’s efforts, Lumi can now eat her favorite mochi (soft rice cake) in the morning and eat homemade food (not more liquid food) and slowly walk out of the garden on her own.
The other day, she was determined to walk outside our yard, so I took her for very short walks. When Lumi gets tired, she tries to return instead of moving forward, so I respected her wishes and returned home immediately.
Lumi wanted to see Ocean on Christmas day.
Lumi said hello to everyone she passed, lay down on the sand, and enjoyed feeling the breeze.
On the way back, Lumi seemed a little tired and wouldn’t move on the sand, so when I held her, she was happy. She walked along the sidewalk on her own, sniffed many scents, and was satisfied.
Even as I write this blog, Lumi is sleeping comfortably with Makani at my feet, and when I tried to take a photo, Makani looked up.
Our Christmas miracle in 2024!
I hope you all find miraculous moments as we enter the new year.
Love,
Sanae ❤️
*Bonus:
What I found out about dog heart murmur.
“A dog with a heart murmur may experience a seizure-like event called syncope, which is a temporary loss of consciousness:
Syncope – Also known as fainting, syncope can occur when a dog’s heart is unable to pump enough oxygenated blood to the brain. This can be caused by an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia, which can be very fast, very slow, or irregular. Syncope can look like a seizure, but there are some key differences.
日本のビワの葉と松の葉のチンキ（エキス）作りワークショップ
母は、人生の後半20年くらい、ビワの葉チンキ（エキス）を作っていた。
私が覚えている母は若い頃から免疫力が弱く、朝起きて朝食を作ることができませんでした。何年も体重が増えず、よく眠ることができてなかった母。
全身に痛みがあり、ドクターからの処方薬を多量に母は服用していたため、自分の健康状態を改善するために何ができないかいつも探していたのかも。
母は自分の友人、近所の人や地元のニュースから勧められたことをたくさん試しましたが、何も役に立っていなかった。
たとえば、プルーンを食べる、ノニジュースを飲む、体重を増やすためには肉をもっと食べる、鶏肉だけにする、高価な電気毛布、あるグループを崇拝して、そこで売っていた白い陶器を多額のお金で買って拝むと健康になるとか。
すでにマクロビオティックを実践していた私は、それが彼女の健康に効果がないことはわかっていたけど、海外で離れて暮らしていた私はいつも話を聞いてあげていた。日本に帰国した時には心のこもったマクロビオティック料理を母に作ってあげた。そうしていたら母の健康状態が良くなってきたので、週に数回マクロビオティック料理を作ってくれる人を見つけたところ、母の考え方が前向きになってやたらいろんな事を試すのをやめた。
ある日、ビワの葉の温灸とビワの葉のチンキ（エキス）のおかげで痛みが楽になって、よく眠れるようになったと母から電話があった。
それから少しして母は友達からビワの葉をもらい、ビワの葉チンキを自分で作り始めたと言うのです。
チンキ剤を作るために、母は葉と枝を分け、葉っぱを洗ってきれいにし、切って、焼酎の入ったガラス瓶に漬け込まむことになりました。
母にとって大仕事だったのに、作りあげるのを決意して疲れても、びわの葉の香りがとても心地良いよって言ってた。その後、送ってくれた写真二母は活気があって感動した。
ビワの葉チンキ（エキス）を作るようになって元気そうな母
その後、母は家の庭にビワの木も植えました。
母はアメリカにもビワの木があるなら私にも植えるよう勧めてくれた。幸いなことに、私がその頃引っ越した（現在も住んでいる）家の隣の家に大きなビワの木があり、私はそこからビワの苗木を譲り受け、30年前に庭に植えられる事になった。
母はビワの葉チンキのボトルを何本も作って、ビワの葉チンキを私にもよく送ってくれてので、私は自分と、夫、動物の家族、友人、クライエントさんためにいつも使用し始めた。
私の植えたビワの木が十分に大きくなってからは私も自分でビワのチンキ（エキス）作り始めるようになった。
チンキ作りは母が私にくれた贈り物。母がくれたその贈り物をできるだけ多くの人に伝えたい。現在はたくさん種類の違うチンキも作って重宝している。
このワークショップを始めると決まってから、祖母が私が3 歳くらいのとき三重の山に連れて行き、野生のキノコや薬用植物を採りに行った事を思い出した。祖母はヒーラーだった。なぜ私が自然の力や癒しの仕事にこんなに惹かれるのか、やっとわかったようだ。
私が真実捧げる人生とは、自分の体、魂、精神を自然の偉大な力を尊重して学び癒しに繋げる、また他の人たちと動物家族をも癒される助けをする事。
日本のチンキ作りワークショップを教えるチャンスをJACCCの大崎恵美さんのお陰で達成できたことを心より感謝しています。
ワークショップの詳細は次のとおりです。
日本のビワの葉と香り豊かな松の葉を使った植物性チンキ剤の作り方を学ぶ、ハンズオンで実際に手作りしていただけるチンキワークショップにぜひご参加ください。独特の香りを体験し、肌にやさしく試す方法を学び、ご自分で作ったチンキ剤をお持ち帰りしていただけます。作った植物チンキ剤の数多くの効能と伝統的な使用法を知ると同時に、お庭で育てられるハーブを使ってチンキ剤を作る知識も得られます。
日程: ２０２４年１０月２７日（日）
時間：午前10時半 から午後12時
場所: 日米文化会館 Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center
リトル東京 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
料金: Free with RSVP (donations encouraged)
Japanese Botanical Tincture-Making Workshop