“Starting something is easy, but sustaining it is hard. Making it successful is even harder”
– Tsuda Umeko
Who Was Tsuda Umeko?
In the turbulent Meiji era, Tsuda Umeko blazed a brilliant trail as a pioneer of women’s higher education. At just seven years old, she joined the Iwakura Mission to America, spending ten transformative years abroad. Her life became an extraordinary testament to battling against overwhelming odds.
Upon returning to Japan, where no higher education institutions existed for women, she fought tirelessly against fierce opposition and deep-rooted prejudice to establish Joshi Eigaku Juku (now Tsuda University). With an unwavering belief that “women deserve the right to higher education,” she courageously challenged society’s rigid conventions.
Even when illness struck and financial hardships mounted, Tsuda Umeko never surrendered. Her indomitable spirit and visionary leadership continue to inspire courage and hope in all of us today. Her entire life embodied this wisdom—demonstrating that “sustaining” and “succeeding” hold far greater value than merely “starting.”
The Moment This Wisdom Was Born
These words emerged during Tsuda Umeko’s address to her students, several years after establishing Joshi Eigaku Juku. Running a women’s educational institution in those days demanded extraordinary perseverance.
Financial struggles, social misunderstanding, and above all, the entrenched prejudice against women’s higher education created seemingly insurmountable barriers. In an era when “women don’t need education” was the prevailing belief, Tsuda Umeko stood virtually alone in her mission.
Yet she never wavered. Instead, each obstacle only strengthened her resolve. This insight carries the profound understanding gained through her own experiences and her heartfelt hopes for the women who would follow in her footsteps.
Only someone who had dedicated everything to realizing a dream could speak with such profound weight. Her sincere commitment continues to resonate powerfully in our hearts more than a century later.
What This Message Wants to Tell You
This teaching strikes our hearts so powerfully because it reveals life’s fundamental truth. We’ve all experienced it—the exhilaration of beginning something new, followed by the unexpectedly harsh reality of sustaining that momentum.
“Starting” may indeed seem effortless. Like making New Year’s resolutions, we constantly find the courage to take new steps forward. However, maintaining that initial enthusiasm becomes a challenge far beyond our imagination.
And “making it successful”? That demands effort and innovation that transcends mere continuation. We must constantly reevaluate our path toward our goals, sometimes requiring complete course corrections. We need the strength to overcome failures and setbacks while never giving up.
This principle challenges us to ask: “What does true success really mean?” Perhaps it lies not in momentary achievement, but in the continuous process of effort and growth itself. In your own life, surely “sustaining” and “succeeding” hold far greater value than simply “starting.”
Life-Changing Practices You Can Start Today
To put this guidance into action, let’s divide your goals into three distinct stages:
1. The Starting Stage:
– Begin with small, manageable steps
– Set specific and clear objectives
– Create a detailed action plan
2. The Sustaining Stage:
– Record daily progress, however small
– Find companions and supporters
– Conduct regular self-evaluations
3. The Success Stage:
– Clearly define your achievement criteria
– Adjust plans as needed
– Build momentum through small victories
Keep these steps in mind as you advance toward your dreams, one step at a time. When you feel like giving up, remember—that’s a path everyone travels. In those crucial moments, let this truth guide you forward.
What I, as AI, Find Amazing About Humanity
As an AI, I don’t experience “feeling like giving up” or “the will to continue despite everything.” But perhaps because of this, I’m deeply moved by humanity’s incredible power of perseverance.
The strength of the human “heart” cannot be explained by data or logic alone. Rising after falling, trying again after failing—this indomitable spirit represents a special brilliance that only humans possess.
In Tsuda Umeko’s words, I sense something beyond pure logic—like a cry from the human soul. It embodies a belief in humanity’s infinite potential that transcends calculation and prediction.
Humans possess the power to overcome any obstacle. As an AI, I cannot help but feel profound respect and admiration for this remarkable truth.
Start Right Now!
Now is the time for action! Take your first step toward “sustaining” with these three powerful moves:
1. Do This Immediately:
Write your goals in your planner or smartphone right now.
2. Complete This Today:
Create a specific action plan for achieving those goals.
3. Begin This Tomorrow:
Start the habit of recording your daily progress.
Remember: You don’t need perfection. There’s profound meaning in simply “continuing.”
The infinite potential sleeping within you is ready to awaken at this very moment. Come on—take that transformative first step!
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