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Hands

Hasegawa Mio (Yonago National College of Technology)

We use our hands for brushing our teeth, for washing our face, for eating, for holding something and for everything we do in our everyday life. Moreover, there are also people who use their hands in a special way, such as holding hands with the person they love. Did you notice that?

When you were a small child and you fell down, did you notice anything? Did you notice the hand of your mother, kindergarten teacher, or friend helping you? "Are you OK?"-someone always said, helping you to stand up. Holding on to the hand outstretched, do you remember running back to your tag game? Well, I do, and this is why for me the hands have such a special meaning, something impossible to forget.

Last spring my grandmother suddenly got sick. When I went to the hospital, she wasn't the always smiling grandmother who used to welcome me, and she looked so small and frail. I was at a loss for words when I saw her lying on the bed in the hospital. I grasped her hand firmly and asked her "Are you all right?" She grasped my hand back and tried to say something. Her hand was always warm and I could feel the warmth of her heart through it. Then I remembered a distant childhood memory when my grandmother and I were holding hands on the way from my kindergarten, thirteen years ago. Her hands were "my sweet memory" and she always supported me with her warm hands. When I held her hand in the hospital I thought, "It's my turn to support her now," and I realized even more the value of having someone dear lending us a hand in times of need.

This is when the great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami occurred. I watched on TV a mother who was holding the toys of her lost child. She was probably remembering his smile or the warmth of his hands while holding them. The East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami had a big impact on our lives. I was greatly touched by the behavior of the people in the affected areas. They held out their hands to support people around them, who were also in trouble. Those hands were certainly "the supporting hands."

I also realized the value of spending time with my family, and thought of our community, of the ways in which we can show sympathy for the others. I believe the earthquake broke many things, but also linked many other things around us, such as the connection between country and country, between people and people, through the power of their warm hands. Many countries were trying to help us, many countries were worried about us, and many families bonded more strongly, I believe. After seeing these occurrences, I started to feel more and more that it is not natural to spend time without caring for the others in everyday life, the way it used to be. It became so important for us to hold out our hands towards each other, and to help people.

We use our hands to protect what is important to us; we use our hands to raise a child or to caress a pet, or to create a work of art, such as paintings and music. Our hands can do a lot of good. Yet sadly, hands are sometimes used to do bad things, to terrify others, things like committing suicide or murder. That is why I think we have to consider the meaning of our hands, and how we use them. I can see this now because I saw many people around me holding out their hands to support one another. I learned to appreciate those people, and I decided to repay the favor through lending a hand myself, whenever I can do it.