May 21st

Because you were born into this world, it is important that you make every effort to become happy. Never allow yourself to be defeated by misfortune.

The struggles you undertake and the efforts you make, striving with a spirit that emanates youthful energy enveloped in the light of hope, will move everything in the direction of happiness.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
生まれてきたからには、幸福を勝ち取らねばならない。
断じて、不幸に負けてはならない。
若々しく希望の光に包まれた、貴女の闘争の力こそが、すべてを幸福に変えていくのだ。

UMARETE KITA KARA NI WA, KOFUKU O KACHITORANEBA NARANAI.
DANJITE, FUKO NI MAKETE WA NARANAI.
WAKAWAKASHIKU KIBO NO HIKARI NI TSUTSUMARETA, ANATA NO TOSO NO CHIKARA KOSO GA, SUBETE O KOFUKU NI KAETE IKU NO DA.

(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 156)

May 19th

If we allow ourselves to feel envious of a neighbor's lush, green fields of prosperity, no matter how far we go there is no satisfaction to be gained. Unless we plow the fields of our own reality, we can never truly enjoy the real fruits of life.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
他人の畑に気を取られていては、どこまでいっても満足はえられない。
自分の畑を耕さないかぎり、人生の真の実りは満喫できない。

TANIN NO HATAKE NI KI O TORARETE WA, DOKOMADE ITTE MO MANZOKU WA ERARENAI.
JIBUN NO HATAKE O TAGAYASANAI KAGIRI, JINSEI NO SHIN NO MINORI WA MANKITSU DEKINAI.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 154)

May 17th

Noble and beautiful indeed is the life of a woman, who, though ordinary and simple, strives hard for the sake of her family and neighborhood in her own unique way, and who lives sincerely, always exerting herself to the best of her ability.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
家族のため、近隣のために、自分らしく、誠実に精いっぱいの努力をしていきてきた女性の一生は、平凡であっても、尊く美しい。

KAZOKU NO TAME, KINRIN NO TAME NI, JIBUN RASHIKU, SEIJITSU NI SEIIPPAI NO DORYOKU O SHITE IKITEKITA JOSEI NO ISSHO WA, HEIBON DE ATTEMO, TOTOKU UTSUKUSHII.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 152)

May 15th

We must build ourselves through our own efforts. We must become the magnetic pull that draws happiness our way. We must become the bright suns of happiness that illuminate our families, our relatives and our friends.

-- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
自分自信をつくることです。自分のなかに、幸福の引力をもつことです。自分が幸福の太陽になって、一家も一族も、友人をも照らしていくことです。

JIBUN JISHIN O TSUKURU KOTO DESU. JIBUN NO NAKA NI, KOFUKU NO INRYOKU O MOTSU KOTO DESU. JIBUN GA KOFUKU NO TAIYO NI NATTE, IKKA MO ICHIZOKU MO, YUJIN O MO TERASHITE IKU NO DESU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 150)

August 16th

The bridge that connects dreams to reality is effort. Hard working people are always bubbling with hope, because hope is born from effort.

- Daisaku Ikeda

Japanese text:
夢と現実を結ぶ橋は努力である。努力する人には希望がわいてくる。希望とは、努力から生まれる。
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, pg. 247)

April 10th

"Effort" is a short word within which we can discover the brilliance of victory and glory.

-- Daisaku Ikeda
April 10th

Japanese text:
DORYOKU TO IU MIJIKAI KOTOBA NO NAKA NI, SHORI TO EIKO GA HIKATTE IRU.
(Josei ni okuru kotoba 365 nichi, 112 pg.)