A Place I Pass Through Every Day

A Place I Pass Through Every Day

I pass through this shrine every day.

On my way, I often see children stop for a moment,

turn toward the shrine,

and say,

“Good morning.”

“Goodbye.”

“I hope today will be a good day.”

No one tells them to do it.

They just do.

And the adults, too,

quietly bow as they pass.

It’s a small thing,

but every time I see it,

something in me becomes a little quieter.

Having a place like this close to home

feels like a quiet kind of happiness.

I think everyone has a place like this somewhere.

Maybe we don’t always notice it,

until we stop for a moment.