To you who think, 'I am lonely.' Let's practice looking up together.

"I have no friends."
"I am lonely."

Don't you ever have moments where you label yourself with words like those?

When you have no plans on a day off and spend it all alone.
When you see photos on social media of others gathering and having fun.
Your chest feels heavy, and you mutter to yourself, 'Ah, I knew it...'

I am one of those people who used to believe that, too.

But is that 'loneliness' really a fact?
Perhaps it is just that you aren't 'seeing' it.

Yesterday, on the last day of a three-day weekend, a series of coincidences led me to stand on stage at an event and give a talk.
For me, speaking in front of people is a rare occurrence.
When my acquaintances found out, they said, 'That's amazing! I'll come listen!' and I replied lightly, 'You definitely have to come!'

But I never actually thought those people would really come.
I have always lacked self-confidence; in fact, I disliked myself.
That is why I couldn't imagine that anyone would go out of their way to set aside time to come for me.

However, on the day of the event.
In the group LINE chat made for the event participants, someone said, 'Chizu-san is going on stage at 10 o'clock! Let's go listen!'
While I was preparing backstage, I peeked at the venue and saw that the people who said they would come listen were actually sitting in the seats.
That fact made my heart swell with warmth.

'Wait... was I just assuming on my own that they weren't there?'
As I felt that, a warmth spread through my chest, and at the same time, I felt a sense of regret.

Because I couldn't believe in my own worth, I might have also been unable to believe in the people who cared about me.
Maybe it's okay to believe just a little bit.

Thanks to my friends watching over me, the lecture was a success.
The tears I held back on stage overflowed the moment I stepped off.
Even now, when I think back on it, it was such a happy moment.

For you who are feeling lonely right now,
there are surely people who believe in you and like you.
Even if you can't think of anyone right away, you might just be unaware of them, just like I was.

Thinking, 'There are people who are important to me,' actually takes courage.
But if you look up just a little bit,
I think you will be able to see the people who are reaching out to you.

So, please, try to believe in your own worth.

The scenery that looks lonely changes just by shifting your perspective.
Around you, there are already people who care about you.

I am also still a little afraid to believe.
So, why don't we practice looking up, little by little, together?

A note💌 to support 'believing in yourself'

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