Nurturing Growth Through Open-Mindedness:

As we grow older, we tend to accumulate more knowledge and experiences (and often gain weight as well). However, if we overly rely on these criteria for making judgments, we can sometimes fall into the trap of prejudice because our knowledge and experiences are inherently limited. In such cases, if we have already cultivated an open-minded and genuine approach, we can perceive new things without being bound by preconceived notions or prejudices based on past knowledge and experiences. By doing so, we can make further personal progress and enrich our lives. The late Mr. Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of PANASONIC, referred to this state of being as "Sunaona Kokoro" in Japanese, which translates to "a heart like sand." It is a concept I deeply resonate with. By maintaining a willingness to continually learn new things, I believe that the opportunities for growth and learning are infinite, regardless of our age.

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