Space for Those Who Protect

While listening to Ko Shibasaki's
"Inori" (Prayer)
, I found myself thinking about those who are in the position of protecting others.
Those who support someone often put themselves last.
I would like to write a little about that.

＊
I love the song
"Inori"
by Ko Shibasaki.

＊
Rather than just a song about thinking of someone, I feel this song is...

A song for those who protect.

That is how I perceive it.

＊
People who try to protect others, people who stay on high alert for someone else's sake, people who think they should just do their best themselves.

＊
I feel there is a resonance in this song that quietly draws close to such people.

＊
However, those very people tend to put themselves
last.

＊
"I'm fine," "I'm still okay," "I can manage with this much."

＊
I feel it is not uncommon for people to pile up unreasonable demands on themselves little by little like that.

＊

While humans are surprisingly strong, our lifespans as living beings are limited.

＊
When I think of that, "I'm fine" and "That person will surely be okay" might be just a hair's breadth away from being illusions.

＊
Looking back on my own life, there are times when I am piled with various tasks by those around me and honestly think, "This is tough..."

＊
I think that is not just me, but perhaps the same for others as well.

＊
There are individual differences in capacity and in what we are good or bad at.

＊
The range of what we can do and how easily we get tired varies from person to person. Even so...

We are all human, after all. (^^)

I think there are times when we get tired, times when we want to relax, and times when we want someone to support us a little.

＊
I feel that even such obvious things tend to be forgotten in the midst of being busy.

*
I feel this becomes even more pronounced
once someone takes on a position or title.
I think.

*
Perhaps the more responsible a position someone is in,
the more easily they are seen as
"They'll be fine"
or "They're the only one who can do it."

*
However, fundamentally,
a job title or
contractual position
should not be
a yardstick
for measuring the weight of a person's life,
should it?

*
Those are for organizing
work and roles.
To use an analogy,
I think they are like
a dress code or
the dress (clothing) itself.

*
Something you wear when necessary,
something that indicates the role
required by the situation.

*
Such things
are not
everything about a person.
No matter what title they wear,
there is a human being underneath.

*
They can get tired,
and they can get hurt, too.

*
Hardware is consciously cared for
with overhauls,
maintenance,
and repairs,
yet...

*
When it comes to people,
we say, 'I can still move, so I'm fine,'
'I can manage with this much,'
or 'If I stop working,
it will cause trouble for others...'

*
I feel that we
often think
in that way.

*
But in reality,
humans are also very delicate,
and we should need
rest, recovery,
and care...
I feel that sometimes
the days just keep moving forwardwithout that being properly woven in.

*
It really is...
a difficult situation, isn't it...

*
I wish there were space
for those who protect others
to let their guard down for a moment.

*
It's okay to rest or vent.
If only they could have the space
to pause for a moment, look back at themselves,
and cherish themselves...

*
Looking at reality, to be honest,
it feels a bit bitter.

*
This kind of thing
doesn't just happen in places with
clear elements of so-called exploitative companies;
unfortunately, I feel it has the potential
to happen in very ordinary workplaces
and among very ordinary people as well.

*
Even though no one is
trying to do so intentionally,
a sense of responsibility, good intentions,
or earnestness...
as an extension of those things,
an accumulation of strain and endurance
occurs...

*
It's not that I want to
talk about ideals.
Even so,
I feel a bitter sentiment
mixed with the desire to do something
and a touch of helplessness.

*
May those who protect
also be protected...

With that prayer in my heart.