#changing yourself

One choice we can make every day is growing and improving ourselves by understanding our true purpose and becoming aware of who we really are.

Narrated by Helz.

Narrator: I reluctantly packed up the booth, carried my suitcase, and looked around the exhibition venue. I felt a deep sense of regret.

Narrator: I accidentally dropped the dress I was holding in my hand. But as I reached down to grab it, another hand appeared before me.

Unknown Girl: Let me help.

Narrator: A neatly dressed girl with short hair helped me pick up the dress. She then glanced at my hands, filled with luggage.

Unknown Girl: You shouldn’t be holding onto so many things at once. I’ll hold these instead, okay?

Helz: Oh, thank you. Sorry for the trouble... Are you also a designer who came to the Designer’s Tea Party?

Narrator: The girl smiled and shook her head.

Mita: I’m Mita, and I work at a design studio. I help my boss send out his design products.

Mita: That’s his booth over there. Isn’t his wedding dress design stunning?

Narrator: It was a beautiful and romantic mermaid wedding dress. I could see that whoever designed it poured a lot of love into it.

Helz: Now that’s a wedding dress that could make someone happy...

Narrator: Mita stared at the dress in the distance, wearing a lonely sort of smile.

Mita: You’re right. He’s about to get married, and that wedding dress was designed for his wife... He loves her very much...

Narrator: Mita’s smile disappeared. She couldn’t hide her sadness.

Mita: Wait, you said you were a designer, right? It’s time to enter submissions right now, so why are you packing up?

Helz: I think I would be better prepared if I just come back next year...

Helz: Compared to everyone else’s work, mine isn’t that good... Just look at your boss’, it’s so romantic and beautiful.

Helz: You can almost feel the person it was made for. She’s gentle and reserved, right?

Mita: You’re right. Everyone who’s met her is enchanted by her quiet elegance.

Narrator: We continued to chat until we had left the event. After we left, Mita looked thoughtfully at the dress in her hands.

Mita: Can I buy this dress that you designed?

Mita: I’m attending my boss’ wedding in two days and I need something special to wear for the occasion.

Helz: Huh?! Why would you choose this one?

Mita: It’s a shame that it won’t be shown off in the competition. And... this dress is very beautiful with its exquisite embroidery.

Helz: It doesn’t look like it suits your style.

Narrator: As the wind blew through Mita’s short hair, she tucked a loose strand behind her ear and smiled reluctantly.

Mita: If you attend someone’s wedding, shouldn’t you wear something they’d like? This is the last time I give him what he wants...

Narrator: Mita gently stroked the dress I designed. Her eyes glossed over as she blinked slowly.

Narrator: I was stunned for a moment. I had no idea why Mita would say something like that.

Choose either “I’m guessing it has something to do with Mita’s boss” or “She probably has something on her mind.”

If “boss,” ...

You: Mita’s bad mood must have something to do with her boss.

If “mind,” ...

You: I’m guessing she had something on her mind... And it must be pretty sad...

--

Narrator: You guessed it. Seems like I’m not the only one who noticed Mita’s strange behavior.

Narrator: During our conversation, I roughly pieced together Mita’s story.

Choose “Don’t tell me Mita has a crush on her boss???”

You: Could it be that Mita has a crush on her boss???

Narrator: Right, again. You have good intuition!

You: I knew it!

Narrator: Mita always had a crush on her boss, and she’s worked with him since he started up his business.

Narrator: However, Mita seemed to be the complete opposite of his type.

Narrator: So, Mita changed for him. She grew her hair out, started wearing delicate dresses, and changed her makeup and overall style...

Narrator: Despite her efforts, Mita’s crush only considered her as a powerful subordinate and close friend.

Narrator: Eventually, her boss met the love of his life. It was time for Mita to bid farewell to her crush.

Mita: So... I threw away all the dresses I had bought to please him.

Mita: He asked me to be the officiate for his wedding, but now I have nothing to wear.

Narrator: Mita gestured to her outfit and murmured.

Mita: I want to wear something he would like...

Narrator: Mita sounded hesitant. I knew that wasn’t what she really wanted.

Mita: You designed this dress for the theme of “love,” but isn’t there more to love than just two people loving each other...?

Narrator: Mita asked in a low voice, as though she was really asking the question to herself instead of me.

Chapter 1

Chapter 3

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

~ Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy

Here are seven steps to try if you’d like to make some positive changes in yourself:

See yourself outside yourself.

Find the habit associated with the thing you want to change.

Practice every day, no matter what.

Set realistic goals.

Constantly look in the mirror.

Surround yourself with…

When our feelings are low, so is our self-esteem.We have to understand what is troubling us before becoming able to change it.

Growth is a lifelong process driven by curiosity that often involves an inner journey of becoming aware, understanding, and changing ourselves.