50歳折り返し「は？」

2024.11.16

昨日は、尊敬する先輩とお食事。話題は本当にいろいろ。勉強になるし、何よりとっても楽しい時間。ふと話の流れで、「自分もあと4年ほどで50歳なんです」と話したところ、先輩から面白い話が。

「50歳って折り返し地点だってよく言うけど、吉川晃司さんが50歳を迎えたときの言葉を知ってる？」と。吉川晃司さんの言葉は「は？折り返してたまるか！」

これ、本当に素晴らしい一言！思わず笑ってしまった。考えてみれば、「なんで折り返して戻らなきゃいけないんだ？」まさにその通り。本当「折り返してたまるか！」

素敵な先輩との「いやいや、ぜひ折り返しちゃってよ」「ほっしーには折り返してほしいな」なんて冗談もあり、改めて、未来への意欲や挑戦は年齢に左右されないってことを確認できた瞬間。

50歳折り返し？「は？？？折り返してたまるか！」

人生片道切符。これからも全力で走り続けようと心に決めた、そんな素敵な夜。

ーーーー

Turning back at 50? What? “No way I’m turning back!”
Yesterday, I had dinner with a respected mentor. We talked about all sorts of topics—it was insightful and, above all, a genuinely enjoyable time. At one point, I mentioned, “In about four years, I’ll be 50.” That’s when my mentor shared an interesting story.

“People often say that 50 is the halfway point, but have you heard what Koji Kikkawa said when he turned 50? ‘What? Halfway? No way I’m turning back!'”

It’s such an incredible line! I couldn’t help but laugh. When you really think about it, why should we turn back at all? Exactly—“No way I’m turning back!”

As we shared this laugh, my mentor jokingly said, “Come on, you should turn back,” and, “I hope you do.” Those lighthearted moments made me realize once again that the drive for the future and the thirst for new challenges aren’t bound by age.

Turning back at 50? What? “No way I’m turning back!”

Life is a one-way ticket. With that thought, I committed to keep running forward at full speed. It truly was a wonderful night.