人と人との繋がり The Bonds Between People

私は人にお願いすることが苦手だ、お願いしたことでその方にかかる負担を思うと、自分でした方がいい、そう思っていた。
しかし先日、どうしても私の力だけでは賄いきれず、最後の手段で名刺や電話を検討して、人脈の多い方に数人電話してお願いした。
すると、みなさん二つ返事で引き受けてくださり、結果、仕事が間に合った。ほんとうに感謝だ。
仕事とは人と人との繋がりで成り立っている、決して自分の力だけではない、見えない力に感謝して生きていこう！

I have always struggled to ask favors of others. To ask, I thought, was to burden someone—better to shoulder it myself.
But the other day, I came to the limit of what I could do alone. As a last resort, I went through my cards and numbers, and finally called a few people with wider connections. I asked for help.
To my surprise, each of them agreed without hesitation. And thanks to their kindness, the work was completed in time.
I am deeply grateful. Work, after all, is sustained by the ties between people. Never by my strength alone.
So I will live with gratitude—for the unseen bonds that hold us up.