Recently, I have been reminded once again of just how important health management is. Unless I take good care of both my mind and body, I find myself truly noticing various signs of decline as the years accumulate.

While I pay close attention to my daily health in this way, I can only wryly smile when it comes to alcohol, as my capacity for it still shows no sign of waning. When it comes to physical decline, I suppose the biggest factor is my stamina. As much as possible, I make a point of walking briskly for about twenty minutes on my commute to the bar. Also, because I easily get a heavy stomach if I overeat, I rarely have trouble with the portion sizes of my meals. Although my weight fluctuates slightly, it is not to the extent that my stomach protrudes, and I spend my days mindful that appearance is also important as a bartender.

On the other hand, what I have come to clearly feel since passing the age of fifty is a decline in my “heart.” I am not entirely certain whether this is truly a decline of the spirit, but as the years go by, I find myself shedding tears of emotion much more often when watching movies or dramas. Along with that, there are mornings when my “motivation” upon first waking up simply does not come easily.

Moving forward, I want to spend my days cherishing not just physical care, but also looking after the health of my mind little by little. Facing my inner self in this manner, I continue to stand behind the counter today.