“Hitoshi:I'll never be able to be here again. As the minutes slide by, I move on. The flow of time is something I cannot stop. I haven't a choice. I go. One caravan has stopped, another starts up. There are people I've yet to meet, others I'll never see again. People who are gone before you know it, people who are just passing through. Even as we exchange hellos, they seem to grow transparent. I must keep living with the flowing river before my eyes. I earnestly pray that a trace of my girl-child self will always be with you.For waving good-bye, I thank you.”
Quote Analysis
In this poignant quote from Banana Yoshimoto's novel, the character Hitoshi reflects on the inevitability of time passing and the transient nature of human connections. Hitoshi acknowledges the constant movement of life, symbolized by caravans coming and going, and recognizes that people come into our lives briefly before fading away. The passage conveys a sense of nostalgia and acceptance of the passage of time, as well as a yearning for some part of oneself to endure in the memories of others. Ultimately, Hitoshi expresses gratitude for the people who have crossed paths with him, while also recognizing the fleeting nature of these interactions.
Modern Relevance
In this poignant passage from Banana Yoshimoto's novel, the protagonist Hitoshi reflects on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of time passing. This theme resonates in today's fast-paced world where we are constantly moving, meeting new people, and saying goodbye to others. The sentiment of cherishing memories and hoping a part of our past selves will always be remembered by those we leave behind is a universal aspect of the human experience.
Example of Usage
"Hitoshi:I'll never be able to be here again. As the minutes slide by, I move on. The flow of time is something I cannot stop. I haven't a choice. I go. One caravan has stopped, another starts up. There are people I've yet to meet, others I'll never see again. People who are gone before you know it, people who are just passing through. Even as we exchange hellos, they seem to grow transparent. I must keep living with the flowing river before my eyes. I earnestly pray that a trace of my girl-child self will always be with you.For waving good-bye, I thank you." - Banana Yoshimoto
Reflection Questions:
In this poignant passage by Banana Yoshimoto, the theme of impermanence and the continuous flow of time is explored. Here are some reflection questions to ponder upon after reading this passage:
- How do you feel about the inevitability of time passing and the transient nature of relationships?
- Have you ever experienced the feeling of saying goodbye to someone or something knowing you may never see it again? How did it make you feel?
- In what ways can we cherish the memories of those we have met but are no longer in our lives?
- How does the metaphor of a flowing river resonate with you personally in terms of life's constant changes and transitions?
- Reflect on the idea of holding onto our inner child selves as we navigate through life's uncertainties - how can this concept be applied in your own life?
Similar quotes
“Wherever I go, I'll always see you. You'll always be with me. And there's no happy ending coming here, no way a story that started on a night that's burned into my heart will end the way I wish it could. You're really gone, no last words, and no matter how many letters I write to you, you're never going to reply. You're never going to say good-bye. So I will. Good-bye, Julia. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for being you.”
“The first time I saw you, my heart fell. The second time I saw you, my heart fell. The third time fourth time fifth time and every time since, my heart has fallen.I stared at her.You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Your hair, your eyes, your lips, your body that you haven't grown into, the way you walk, smile, laugh, the way your cheeks drop when you're mad or upset, the way you drag your feet when you're tired. Every single thing about you is beautiful.I stared at her.When I see you the World stops. It stops and all that exists for me is you and my eyes staring at you. There's nothing else. No noise, no other people, no thoughts or worries, no yesterday, no tomorrow. The World just stops and it is a beautiful place and there is only you. Just you, and my eyes staring at you.I stared.When you're gone, the World starts again, and I don't like it as much. I can live in it, but I don't like it. I just walk around in it and wait to see you again and wait for it to stop again. I love it when it stops. It's the best fucking thing I've ever known or ever felt, the best thing, and that, beautiful Girl, is why I stare at you.”
“I haven't stopped looking for the good in people. I've just accepted the fact that I'm not always going to find it.”
“It just happens. Even when almost everyone who showed you how to do things showed you wrong, and screwed you up, and left; even when you have promised yourself fifteen different sets of sheets and in freight trains and on sidewalks, staring up at the stars, that you will do it different from all the people who have done it wrong and hurt you, still you do it the same. Still you do the same shit to everybody else that they have done to you. I know it must be possible to keep promises. There must be people who say things and mean then and who can make the words turn real. But I've never met one. I keep trying to be something I'm not even sure exists. I've promised myself so many times that I won't be like so many people, and I still do it anyway. I still make people cry, and laugh at them, and I know as soon as everyone really sees me they'll all leave again and I'll be left with the noise not being able to sleep.”
“Dear Diary,We flew to the other side of the world, and I never stopped holding you close to my chest. You were empty and so was I. My only friend in the world. The only one who understood where I began and where I was going. We flew together and everything we knew before was gone.”