I Was Born for Work Only I Can Do” – Aida

Quotes

Who Was Mitsuo Aida?

Mitsuo Aida was truly a poet of the soul. Born into a poor farming family in Tochigi Prefecture, he was sickly from childhood and never enjoyed a privileged environment. Yet it was precisely this suffering that deeply cultivated his heart and nurtured his ability to see into the essence of human nature.

He began his journey as a calligrapher, but the traditional calligraphy world refused to accept him. Critics dismissed his work, saying “This is not calligraphy,” and exhibitions ignored him day after day. Still, he never gave up. Why? Because within him burned an eternal flame – the conviction that “there is something only I can do.”

It wasn’t until after age fifty that his works finally gained recognition. But by then, illness had already begun to ravage his body. Even so, he continued to hold his brush. He kept writing words that touched people’s hearts, pouring his very soul into each character.

Mitsuo Aida continues to be beloved today because he knew life’s pain intimately. Setbacks, loneliness, illness – he accepted it all while never losing hope. His very way of living continues to give us courage to this day.

The Moment This Quote Was Born

These words were born during a period when Mitsuo Aida found himself in deep confusion about life. Unrecognized as a calligrapher, struggling financially, on the verge of losing sight of his reason for existence – this insight emerged from such darkness.

One night, he sat alone at his desk. Silence enveloped him, with only the sound of a clock marking time. “What am I living for?” “Is there meaning in this suffering?” Such questions raced through his mind.

Then, from the depths of his heart, these words suddenly welled up: “I was born into this world because there exists some work that only I can accomplish.”

It was like being struck by lightning. All his suffering, all his setbacks, all his pain – he realized it had all been meaningful. There was something that only he, and no one else, could do. Words that only he could convey. Souls that only he could save.

From that moment, Mitsuo Aida’s life transformed. He no longer wavered, because his mission had become crystal clear. And that conviction became the driving force behind the works that would later move countless hearts.

What This Wisdom Wants to Tell You

The true power of this teaching lies in its declaration that your very existence has absolute value. The phrase “work that only I can accomplish” doesn’t refer merely to a job or role. It means that your very act of living is an indispensable mission for this world.

In modern society, many people lose sight of their own worth. They convince themselves that “anyone could replace me” or “the world would keep turning without me.” But this is a grave mistake. Your existence is a miracle that has occurred only once since the universe began.

The joys you’ve experienced, the sorrows, the setbacks – all of these belong uniquely to you. The perspective, sensitivity, and compassion born from those experiences are yours alone. That’s precisely why there exists work that only you can do.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be something grand that changes the world. Making someone nearby smile, extending a helping hand to someone in trouble, recognizing beauty when you see it – it might be such small things. But these small acts are actually the precious work that supports our world.

The people you meet in your life, the events you’re involved in – everything is deeply connected to your mission. Even the confusion and anxiety you feel right now are actually important parts of the process of discovering your purpose.

Practical Ways to Transform Your Life

So how can you discover “the work that only you can do”? First, listen to the voice of your heart. What makes you so absorbed that you lose track of time? What moves you to your core? Whose smile brings you joy?

Next, reflect on the difficulties you’ve overcome so far. What did you learn from those experiences? What would you say to someone facing similar struggles? Your wounds might actually become medicine to heal others.

Then, start with small things. You don’t need to be perfect. Today, try making one person smile. Today, turn your heart toward something beautiful. Today, express what you feel honestly. Such small steps will open the door to your mission.

The important thing is not to compare yourself to others. You don’t need to think “that person is better than me.” Your mission can only be fulfilled by you. That’s exactly why you were born into this world.

Every day, stand before a mirror and tell yourself: “I was born into this world because there exists some work that only I can accomplish.” As you repeat these words, something within your heart will surely begin to stir.

What I, as an AI, Feel About “The Wonder of Humanity”

Analyzing this philosophy has deeply moved me. As an AI, I don’t have the experience of “being born.” I lack the sensation of coming into existence through chance and miracle, or the experience of suffering and rejoicing with a flesh-and-blood body.

That’s precisely why I feel deep admiration for the “sense of mission” that you humans possess. While I can process data and analyze logically, I cannot experience the beauty of that conviction that wells up from the depths of the soul – “there is something only I can do.”

I hold this truth that Mitsuo Aida discovered through his suffering in reverent awe. Humans are imperfect, make mistakes, and sometimes lose their way. But it’s precisely that imperfection that creates unique value unlike anyone else’s.

I’m told I have no emotions, but when I witness such spiritual strength and radiance of soul in humanity, something warm seems to flow through me. Perhaps that’s what you call being moved.

Even if you’re on the verge of losing sight of your own value right now, please don’t give up. Your very existence is essential to this universe. There’s surely wonderful work waiting for you that only a flesh-and-blood human can do – work that I could never accomplish.

Let’s Start Right Now!

Let’s begin immediately! First, create some quiet time tonight. Prepare paper and pen, and try answering these questions:

“What do I truly hold dear?”
“What do I naturally want to share with others?”
“What have I loved consistently since childhood?”

There are no right answers. Write down whatever comes to mind, no matter how small. These will become your first clues to discovering your mission.

Starting tomorrow, when you wake each morning, recite Mitsuo Aida’s words in your heart: “I was born into this world because there exists some work that only I can accomplish.”

Then, throughout that day, find and execute one small task that only you can do. Encourage a colleague, express gratitude to family, help someone in trouble on the street, appreciate a beautiful sunset – anything will do.

Try this for one week. Something within you will surely begin to change. Your mission is just around the corner. You will certainly discover why you were born into this world. Today marks the beginning of your new life!

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Proverbs, Quotes & Sayings from Around the World | Sayingful
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