Why I Retold “The Blue Bird” (An Introduction to an Unknown Classic)

     Let me be clear about one thing: “The Blue Bird” is not my original story.

Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgian playwright, wrote “The Blue Bird” in 1908. This story is well-known in Europe (and in Japan), but not in North America. Hence, I only retold the story to introduce it to the North American audience.

For those of you who have read “The Blue Bird of Happiness” that is published under S.M. Shigemitsu (now available on Amazon) will read in the author’s note why I created the retelling. For those who have not yet read the book, here is the detailed reason.

I first encountered “The Blue Bird” as a child. It was a beautifully illustrated children’s book written in Japanese. Since then I have encountered other versions of Maeterlinck’s tale: as a manga comic, a script, a storybook, but none in English! Much later, I searched for an English translation of the story and found one (this was in 2010’s) in a local public library—a picture book in English. Even on Amazon back then, there were few available translations (now, there are more available).

Because this story had left such an impression on me, I wrote it—first as a fanfiction with the lead characters being teenagers rather than the young children they were as in the original. After that, I left it on the shelf. Then, years later, I picked it up and rewrote my version again during the COVID pandemic. During the pandemic, I met a writing coach and mentor who encouraged me to self-publish the story. Soon everything fell into place, and I released the book on Amazon in November 2022.

“So why did you decide to write it?” you ask.

During the pandemic, the question “what is happiness?” came to mind. Though happiness is relative and varies from person to person, for me I found that happiness is something you experience in the moment and found close to you. As I created this retelling, I found I was content with my life during the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, my basic needs met, including a job I worked remotely, a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and meals I shared with my family.

     I hope this story would encourage you and help you find your happiness—close to you and your heart.

A Beginner's Experience in Creating a YouTube Video

     For film commentaries, cooking instructions, fun shows, movie trailers, and other things, I like to watch YouTube. I never made a YouTube video and never planned to until it was required for a job application.

    I applied for a job posting at a local library where they responded excitedly and wanted me to create a video about myself and send it to them as a YouTube link. Imagine my panic (if I was a cartoon character, I was bouncing off the walls in panic and screaming) as exaggerated as it sounds; I did not know how to create a YouTube video.

    When I confessed my anxiety with fellow writers of a community, they (bless them!) have told me that all I needed to do was make a recording and post it on YouTube. When they advised me in terms that made sense to me, so I gave it a try. I watched YouTube videos on making YouTube videos. And compiled a 5-minute program for the submission. After much false starts, stutters, the many uh and um’s I created a decent video that was 5-minutes long.

    So, how did I do? I think I did all right. I guess the ultimate result is whether they hire me with that submission. And even if I did not get hired, at least I gained a skill that I thought I would never (bother to) gain. And yes, that is a good thing.