Hana in the Heartbloom Valley

This is the narrative edition of the profile story of Hana (Hanae IHAEA, a profile story author).
日本語版はこちら：https://note.com/summer_hanae/n/n6f8219bad510

Hana awakes and opens her eyes on a summer morning. She recalls all the way through till she came to this valley.

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The Small Flower Field

Hana was born sometime somewhere in a small flower field.
In spring, worms emerge from the ground, and the field became full of positive energy, with flowers such as purple milk-vetch, dandelions, and violets blooming and butterflies flitting around.

The flowers were gazing at the open sky, stretching their leaves to catch as much sunshine as they could.
While playing together, Hana loved to listen to the stories of these flowers.
Each story had their own melody, like music that would move Hana's heart and body.

For a long time, she had felt that she was not truly welcomed in this little flower field.
Even when she was with the flowers, Hana somehow felt alone in some way.

Despite of this feeling, Hana was still smiling brightly.
Hana kept saying to herself,
'It's going to be all right. As long as I am a little patient and let things go, everything will be okay.'

Suffocating Place

The area beside the creek was a special place for the flowers in the field.
Plenty of water was always available there.
At the advice of the other flowers around her, Hana came to the stream.
The moist soil caught Hana's roots.
'I wish it were more sunny and breezy,' Hana felt in her heart, but she did not say it out in words.
This feeling grew and expanded over the days, and one day, Hana could no longer bear to live in that suffocating place by the stream.

’Help me. Please help me!’
Not knowing what to do, Hana began to wilt, completely losing her energy.

Life in a Swamp

Hana found herself in a swamp, with her feet caught in the mud and unable to walk or move.
In the midst of darkness, hearing no voices from the flowers, she was completely alone.
No one would help her.

The mud water was so heavy and cold that Hana had no idea how to do anything to find a place with light.
In complete darkness, Hana kept crying and crying for years and years.
She no longer knew what fun she had, or how she used to laugh or dance.

The Moonlight

One night, the moon, rising into the sky, found Hana in the swamp far away on the earth.
From the night sky, the Moon sent Hana a beautiful poem.
'You don't have to cry,’ she said. ’I am here with you every day, keeping you safe and strong. You are not alone.'
The moonlight simply and gently embraced Hana.

The moon sent a poem to Hana from the night sky.
The poem, which was twinkling in the darkness, seemed to express Hana's feelings that she couldn't express in words or tell anyone.
As Hana slowly recited the poem in a small voice, the gentle yet bright moonlight seeped into Hana's buds and scooped her up to the waterside.

'I'm always here for you.
As the moon returned to the sky, the sun rose and brightend the world.

The World of Prosperity

Now able to walk, but not knowing what to do, Hana left the swamp and began to walk farther and farther away from home.
She thought she had to find somewhere to settle down and something to do with her life.

Without knowing where she was going, Hana kept walking. Gradually, she became exhausted, when she heard a sound coming from somewhere.

Hana found grasshoppers munching on wheat leaves, making loud noises in a field of wheat that was turning into golden hues.
The largest and toughest looking grasshopper spotted Hana and asked her to join them.
'Would you like to join our project and work with us ?'
His glittering eyes stared at her.
What kind of work do you do, Mr Grasshopper? Asked Hana.
'I'm helping people make more prosperousity with my fellows.
This is a global arena of business. If you want to be prosperous, you have to use your intelligence to create something special, something different from others,' the Grasshopper answered.
'I understand what you mean. But I don't feel comfortable with that kind of business. I wonder if that would really help someone to attain prosperity and happiness,' said Hana in a small voice.
'That’s really childish…,' the Grasshopper interrupted Hana's question.
'You can’t make your living by following your dream-like belief. This world is driven by our desire for prosperity,' the grasshopper stated in no uncertain tones.

Hana thought his statement made sense.
Working with these grasshoppers here should provide her with a stable and secure life.
The journey she would continue alone, on the other hand, would be dangerous and stressful.
However, life in this barley field would be much the same as the days on the side of the stream.
Hana started shivering and even wanted to cry.
Nonetheless, she declined the grasshopper’s offer and left the barley field. 
'I will find my own place to bloom..."

The Last Lesson from a Cicada

Hana reached a forest and looked up at the largest trees, where she recognised a cicada on the trunk.
The cicada had only emerged from the ground a few days earlier, but its quiet, calm manner indicated a deep thoughtfulness.

Hana opened up to him and told her life to the cicada. He looked back on the days he spent under the ground with no guidance of life, and shared his thought with Hana.
'Hana, life is short. If you keep searching for something missing, your time will pass in the blink of an eye.
Start simply by being yourself, here or anywhere else.
It may take some courage. But if you follow your heart, you will eventually find what you were looking for.'

Cicada's words resonated with Hana beyond what his words.
'How can I start being myself right now?' Hana asked, 'I really don't know what I would like to do, or how I feel at this moment.'


’Even if you don't understand, you know there are things you do know, no?' the cicada replied.
'It is the biggest fear coming out of the darkness into the light.
But you have to start with that courage,' the cicada continued in a fading voice, 'Instead of going out to find new answers, , it springs up from the place where you stand right now.’

the sweltering summer sun thrived in the afternoon and the cicada stopped singing.
'That is my only message for you before leaving here. And I’m happy to share this lesson I learned from my life with you, Hana.'
Having said that, the cicada’s voice became lower and lower and finally said nothing anymore in the sunset.

An Encounter and a Tearful Farewell

Hana felt alone again. She wanted company so badly.
She walked further in the mountain and came to a river, where she found a rainbow-coloured caterpillar.

Whilst relaxing in a clear stream, Hana talked with the caterpillar.
The caterpillar had a big dream of becoming a butterfly and more.
Hana did not quite understand what the dream was about, but for some reason she could see a butterfly flying in a rainbow sky.
After walking on and on in search of somewhere, Hana wished she could be with the caterpillar and just listen to him. That had become the only wish Hana had in mind.

On a moonlight evening, Hana took courage and opened up her feelings.
The caterpillar said nothing, but glowed in a colour of confused joy.

However, Hana got irritated as she wanted to move forward and walk faster whereas the caterpillar wanted to go more slowly and carefully. 
There seemed to be no immediate solution or reason to do anything about it.
Hana could not help but decide to separate when a big storm came.

'I'm no longer afraid of such wind! I will find a place for me.'
Hana decided to catch the wind and look for the next place..

Flowers in High Wind

AAfter a while, Hana arrived at a valley full of flowers.
It was a totally new place for her, but she liked the valley with colourful flowers, such as white lilies, red poppies and purple lavenders.
She wanted to listen to the stories of the flowers that bloomed even in strong winds.

Every day, Hana listened to the stories of the flowers as they came to this valley and came to blossom.
Each flower had gone through hardships and the loneliness
Some flowers even showed the dewdrops of tear as they traced memories and talked about experiences that they never looked back on anymore.

However, as they talked about their challenging life and unexpressed feeling and desire, they got healed and even gained a sort of confidence.
Strangely but undoubtedly, they got energised and convinced of their life purposes that had been already there.

In the peace of being heard, they realise their deepest desires.
At that moment, bloomed their heart silently.
It is the most beautiful blossom with the deepest colour of each flower.

As time went by, Hana realised that it was what she loved to do and what she had to offer to the world. 
Unlike the abundance that that grasshopper described, there existed a yielding joy perceived in a deep and profound place.

As she continued and more and more convinced in her love to do it, the valley has come to be known as ”Heartbloom Valley”.

Heartbloom Valley

In the valley, flowers are blooming one by one, colourfully and beautifully in the breeze.
It is a peaceful place for all, where no flower is alone.
Bees and butterflies often come and perch on the flowers, swinging and sucking the nectar.

Today again, Hana walks around the field under the Moon and listens to the songs of flowers. 

Each flower realises the essence that has and will guide her, and at some point makes up her mind.
Hana thinks of the light of the Moon, the lesson of the cicadas and the farewell with the caterpillars.
Hana now understands that no project or relationship starts off with 100 % confidence.
Nothing in life has a single and only answer.

Life in this valley and Hana's life's work may change over time and with the flow.
However, the happiness she feels now and the wishes she has for the flowers in front of her will always remain the same.
Furthermore, even in the strong winds that blow up from time to time, Hana is no longer alone.
As you share your love with people around you, as you experience tears and joy, it becomes clearer and the meaning becomes deeper.

Illustration by Moe Miyahara,
a Japanese artist who paints animals, nature, and mythical places.

In this valley, the flower of Hana also sway gently in the sunny breezes.