ganbatte ikimasshoi!

I just finished watching the japanese drama Ganbatte Ikimasshoi (means do your best). It was a story about a highschool girl who was so passionate in rowing that even if her school only supports rowing for guys, she single-handedly sought girls like her who might like rowing and proved to the coach that they can revive the rowing club for girls.

The story went on with the five girls doing their best and even winning on competition. On their senior year in highschool, they were able to get in the finals for the most prestigous inter-school rowing competition. However, Etsune, the captain of the club, hurt her waist just before that was scheduled and she ended up not being able to row at all.

Rowing being the only thing that motivates her high school life at the time, she succcumb to depression upon learning that she will not be able to participate in that competition. She quit the rowing club and avoided her friends.

Then one of her friends talked to her and said the following things:

"To me, rather than counting the number of things you can do, I'd rather find something I can actually do."

"If you don't know when to put your paddle down, the next match can't even start."

Those lines just made me realize that giving up on something does not necessarily mean you are quitting. You might have no other choice but to quit due to reasons like health problems. But that shouldn't mean that quitting that way means putting an end to your dreams. Instead of sulking and thinking that you should have been a great rower, or whatever it is you wanted to do... You can just use your efforts looking for something else that would replace that passion you have for that thing you lost. Instead of holding on to things that we can no longer do or enjoy, sometimes it's really time to "put your paddle down" or just let it go so the next good thing will start happening...

It was such an inspiring story of how to gracefully give up something you really love.

In the end, Etsune gladly accepted the fact that she really can't row because her body can't take the hard training anymore. But she still remained in the club to assist in other ways. The drama went on to show that even if their club actually lost that prestigous competition, it was actually the best row they've had because they had a sixth crew member: Etsune was just running along the shore of the lake with the girls rowing and kept on cheering and encouraging them, shouting "Ganbatte Ikimasshoi" the entire time.

Indeed, whatever the circumstances, wherever you are placed... just always do your best.

Ganbatte Ikimasshoi!