孤独感は自ら解決するしかない

　８月１６日、今日の群馬県の日の出は５時０２分、太陽高度は６７°、日の入りは１８時３３分で、昼の長さは１３時間３１分です。因みに夏至では昼の長さは１４時間３９分だったので、すでに１時間０８分も短くなってます。殊のほか猛暑の今夏でしたが、庭ではすでにツクツクボウシが鳴き、夜間にはスズムシが鳴き通してます。

　ところで、８月１３日から４日間、家に帰って来ていた先祖たちは８月１６日の今日、送り盆として菩提寺に帰ります。今宵、倉賀野町では昔から江戸と日光への分岐点、つまり追分に位置する下町では「閻魔堂」の祭りが賑やかに行われます。

　お盆のため、長女家族が実家である私の家で過ごしており、昨日の夕方は、秋田犬２頭の散歩に鏑川の土手まで私もお供し、幾分か涼しくなった逝く夏を感じました。写真のようにトンボが飛びかってます。自然界はすでに秋の気配です。平素一人の私は、改めて家族と一緒に過ごすと夕食も美味しく、つい飲み過ぎましたが、昨夜は暫くぶりに充実した時間が持てました。

　近年、高齢者は子供と同居しない人が増えてます。配偶者と死別した高齢者が孤独感を解決する方法は、先ず「人に頼らず」一人でも強く楽しく生きる精神力が基本と考えます。それには趣味など自ら生きる幅を広げてこそ解決に繋がるでしょう。孤独感とは根本的に自分自身で解決するしかありません。次第に友人もいなくなるので「一人で自由に遊べる習慣」を持っていることです。

Dear my friends who are crazy about the pleasant way of life and great music.

　The simultaneous interpretation into English for our mutual understanding will be done after my breakfast in Japan time.

...............................................................

　On August 16th today in Gumma Prefecture situated in the central Japan, sunrise is at 5:02am, the sun's altitude at noon is 67°, and sunset will be at 6:33pm, therefore the length of daylight is 13 hours and 31 minutes. Incidentally, the length of daylight at the summer solstice was 14 hours and 39 minutes, so it has already shortened by 1 hour and 8 minutes. This summer has been particularly hot in Japan, but tsukutsuku cicadas are already chirping in my garden, and crickets are chirping throughout the night.

　By the way, our ancestors who have been visiting our homes for four days since August 13th, will return to their temple today, August 16th. Tonight, in Kuragano-town, at Shimo-cho located in Oiwake, which has been the crossroads between Edo of ancient Tokyo and Nikko, a lively festival is will be held at Enma-do.

　Due to the Obon holiday, my eldest daughter and her family were staying at my home, and yesterday evening I accompanied them on a walk with their two Akita dogs to the bank of the Kabura River, feeling the somewhat cooler weather and the passing of summer. Dragonflies were flying about, as you can see in the photo. Autumn is already in the air in nature. I'm usually alone, but spending time with my daughter again made dinner delicious, so I ended up drinking too much, but last night I was able to spend pleasant quality time after a long interval.

　In recent years, as you know, an increasing number of elderly people are no longer living with their children. I believe that the key to overcoming loneliness for elderly people who have lost their spouse is to first develop the mental strength to live strong and enjoyable lives by their own, without relying on others. The only way to overcome this lonely situation is to broaden the scope of their lives, including by taking up hobbies. The only way to fundamentally overcome loneliness is to do it ourselves As we gradually lose friends, it's indispensable to develop the habit of playing freely by our own.