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Which button am I supposed to press? Fifteen minutes have passed in front of an unfamiliar screen. Asking the person beside you would probably be quicker, but they look busy. Besides, is this too basic a question? Before long, deciding whether to ask takes more effort than the task itself.
Looking things up yourself matters. But being able to do something alone and having to do it alone are not the same thing.
A guide helps, even with small things
少しのことにも、先達はあらまほしき事なり。
Even in small matters, it is good to have a guide.
Kenko, Essays in Idleness, section 52. English translation for this article.
A guide here is someone who has gone before you and knows the way. In this episode, a priest from Ninnaji sets out to worship at Iwashimizu. He visits the religious sites at the foot of the hill, feels satisfied, and returns without reaching the main destination above. Kenko closes the story with this observation.
Effort does not always tell us where to go
The priest did not refuse to make the journey. He decided to go, walked there, and made a real effort. Yet without a word from someone who knew the route, he mistook where he was meant to go.
Work can feel similar. You prepare a careful document in the wrong format, or complete a form for the wrong office. Sometimes the missing piece is not more effort, but one check before starting.
This is not an invitation to hand everything over without trying. Saying, “I understand this part, but I am stuck here,” gives the other person a clear place to begin.
Turn today’s thought into a question
Think of one task that has stalled. Try asking, “Could I check something with you?” If now is inconvenient, simply ask when would be a good time.
Your guide need not have an impressive title. A colleague who used the software yesterday, a relative who completed the same application, or an official help desk might know the next step. Someone just one step ahead can be today’s guide.
Asking does not erase the effort you have already made. It helps that effort reach its destination. Put that way, a question may feel a little easier to ask. (*^^*)
Has someone’s advice helped you find your way? Share a word or experience through our community submission page (Japanese-language page).
Read in Japanese
Source and translation note
Kenko, Essays in Idleness, section 52. Japanese quotation and episode: Diamond Chain Store reference article (Japanese). The English rendering and everyday applications are this article’s own, not a quotation from a published English translation.
A little inspiration for everyday living
In my Rakuten ROOM, I share everyday items we might put off buying for ourselves but would be happy to receive as gifts. Browse when you need something. (*^^*) You do not need to buy anything to ask for help or take your next step.
Shopping from outside Japan? Check Rakuten Global Express for current services, supported destinations, fees and restrictions before purchasing.
Advertisement / affiliate link. For readers who read Japanese: the book below is a Japanese-language edition sold by Rakuten Books in Japan. It is not the English translation quoted in this article. Check language, edition, availability and delivery conditions on the retailer’s page.
作品を本で読む（小川剛生訳注・現代語訳付き）：
『新版 徒然草』を楽天で見る
※紹介する版の訳文・表記は、記事内の引用や本記事訳と異なる場合があります。
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