FORGIVENESS

My name is Takako Naruse. My first name came from my father’s mistress, Takako. My father began an affair with Takako when my mother was six months pregnant with me, and continued for the next 10 years. I was born in 1951, six years after World War Ⅱ, in Kyoto, Japan. After the war, most Japanese people were poor and struggling to survive. This story began when I heard the unpleasant sound of my parents fighting in my mother’s womb. My father was an alcoholic and abusive. My mother’s pain of having a cheating husband affected my life dramatically until I was able to forgive my father at the age of 40. As I saw my mother work hard to raise us three daughters until she became ill. I wanted to become financially independent to help and make my mother happy. It became the purpose of my life. In 1973, I came to America and had a successful career as a chiropractor and an acupuncturist. This is the story of my life, how I was able to forgive my father and find good in him and love him. My struggles transformed into learning lessons for me to grow spiritually. I believe unless you forgive a person who hurt you, you cannot love yourself and find your real happiness. If there is anyone out there who is having the same problem as I had, I hope reading this will help you heal and free your mind and make your life happy and joyful. I believe if I can do it, you can, too.