Hints for Happiness. [Letters to the Hand God ②]
At the end of last year, I invited submissions for articles related to "hands," and I have collected them in a magazine called "Letters to the Hand God."
The top image was borrowed from this article, which was submitted to that magazine.
Shiimo Takatsuka's, "Family, Me, You, and Hand in Hand."
Shiimo-san is a mother of five children. The cute little hand in the top image belongs to her youngest son, the third boy.
I would like to quote the description related to that photo from the article.
On mornings when he says, 'I don't want to go to nursery school.'
I draw lots of pictures on his hands before sending him off.
I've been doing this for everyone since my eldest daughter was little.
For my eldest daughter, I drew portraits.
For my second daughter, I wrote messages like 'I'm rooting for you.'
For the twins, I drew dinosaurs, trains, and train tracks.
For my third son, I draw Anpanman and things he likes like this.
As the older children have grown up, they sometimes say, 'I'll draw for him,' and the sisters draw pictures on their little brother's hands.
Through our hands, our family's feelings circulate.
I think that's really nice.
The 'hand drawings' that the mother and sisters draw with so much love on the third son's hands.
The fact that they become his lucky charms... is just wonderful.
The article is also overflowing with Shiimo-san's love for the hands of her other family members, and it really hit home for me, showing how families can be connected through hands, and how you can raise children while cherishing their hands like this.
I honestly feel that I haven't cherished my children's hands as much as Shiimo-san has.
Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't cherished my two sons, who are now adults.
I have faced my daily parenting with all my might, in my own way.
That is my treasure, which can never be compared to anyone else's.
But looking back, I also think that at the time, I was living each day as if being swept away by one worry after another.
The question of 'what should I do' always occupied my mind, and because of that, I don't have the confidence to say that I cherished the hands of my sons that were right in front of me.
Those thoughts overlapped with an article I had just posted the other day.
In my previous post, I wrote the following about housework.
Put your heart into the hands that wipe the table.
When washing a glass, be conscious of the 'Hand God' residing in your hands.
It's just that simple, yet strangely, I've become more able to feel 'this very moment.'
Perhaps it's because my feelings naturally turn toward 'how my hands are moving at this very moment.'
(Omitted)
Until now, I think I used to think, 'I have to hang the laundry next' while taking out the trash, or 'It'll just get dirty again soon even if I clean it' while cleaning the sink...
But once I made it a habit to put my heart into my hands, I became able to purely enjoy 'what I am doing right now.'
Ah, I see...
Parenting was the same way.
Just as I was able to notice the joy right there by being conscious of the 'hands' doing housework, if I touch my children's 'hands,' I can share the joy with my children who are right there.
For a while, I may have spent my time forgetting to connect with my sons through our 'hands' like that.
I may have been so preoccupied with future worries that I let go of the irreplaceable 'now.'
Reading Shiimo-san's article allowed me to honestly and truly reflect on my own parenting.
Happiness is something that exists 'here and now.'
No matter how much you wish for future happiness, the 'happiness you can feel' only exists 'here and now.'
So, if you carelessly let go of that 'now,' the 'supply of happiness' will be cut off.
Perhaps the hint to whether you can overcome parenting worries with a smile—or even while crying—actually lies in that very thing.
Are you holding hands with the 'now'?
Are you continuing to supply the energy of happiness with your own 'hands'?
Now, from here on, I will present four articles in a row. These are heartfelt posts written about the precious hands of family members.
Kaora-san's, 'What is conveyed through the "hands."'
Kaora-san is a noter who continues to share information about school non-attendance based on her own and her children's experiences.
The following is a quote from the article.
When my eldest son couldn't go to school and couldn't sleep,
I often gave him hand massages.
When I slowly and carefully massaged his hands,
which were still plump like a big baby's,
my eldest son would start to breathe softly in his sleep.
After he became a junior high student and then a high school student,
even after his plump hands became the hands of a young man,
I would massage my eldest son's hands when his anxiety was high, such as before exams,
while sitting on his bed.
(Omitted)
While listening to him say 'yeah, yeah,'
I would massage his 'hands'
so that the tightness in my eldest son's heart would loosen.
While managing your busy work and carefully tending to the state of your children's hearts... I was deeply moved, thinking about how you, Kaora-san, have continued to hold your children's 'hands' right in front of you.
When you massage and loosen the hands, the stiffness in the heart also begins to loosen.
You have been watching over your children while carefully putting such important things into practice!
In terms of age, I suppose I am your senior, but I learn far more from the parenting you share than I could ever teach.
I often feel this way when I read your posts, Kaora-san.
The article also introduces the '8-second hug.' It's a wonderful form of physical affection, so please do try it out.
Next, here is this article.
Kei-san's, 'Because You Are Here'.
The article expresses thoughts about an eldest son who is 'setting off on a journey far away'.
It doesn't state in detail where he is traveling to, but reading the article, it was conveyed that this is someone who has raised their children with great care.
I am sure the eldest son must have been a very kind child, too...
An article that flows like a beautiful film.
I will introduce an impressive excerpt from it.
Please do visit the article and enjoy the entire 'film'.
Worried every day
that you might have even lost the will to live
I often stroked your cheeks with these hands
And now, you
saying 'I'm off!' to me
hug me
and set off on a journey far away with a smile
I can only wave my hand at you
These hands that cannot touch you nearby
connect with you through words, smartphone in hand
Wishing for your happiness
always
Now, here is another wonderful mother.
Shima Nanako-san. 'Hands and Hands'.
Shima Nanako-san honestly shares her experience of how, when her younger child was born, she found it difficult to be touched by her eldest son for a time.
I imagine she feels some regret within herself, but once it is expressed in Shima Nanako-san's words, it takes on a strange brightness.
Even difficult experiences, when read in Shima Nanako-san's words, convey energy and courage to the reader. I think that is the amazing power of words.
The following is a quote.
Your hands, which were plump and like maple leaves,
before I knew it, had thin, long fingers and became a boy's hands.
This year, you were troubled by dryness, so I applied Vaseline to your hands.
The chapped skin is the same as Mom's, isn't it?
Mom's hands hurt too.
When I said that, you shyly replied, 'They're the same, aren't they?'
The eldest son shyly saying 'They're the same' when told 'My hands hurt'.
My heart gave a little pang... and made a sound.
Finally, one more person.
Not about a child, but about a wife's hands.
Tsuzuki Kiraku na Sanpo-san's, '#Hands'.
In short words, with utmost frankness, the thoughts and love for the hands of a wife who has been by his side for many years are written.
I will quote a part of it.
My wife's hands were very rough from housework and weeding at her part-time job.
Even now that she has quit those, my wife's hands have deep wrinkles carved into them as evidence of her hard work.
It is not because of her age of 70, but because of the traces of her toil.
It is truly wonderful to be able to care for your partner in this way.
I wondered what kind of person would write an article like this... and as I was looking at your creator page, I discovered this tanka poem written in your profile section!
My wife is with me on the path I walk, her smile is lovely, and her compassion is deep.
Please continue to cherish your wife, who has such a lovely smile and deep compassion!
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported this project.
We are accepting articles until February 2nd, and I plan to introduce the submissions one by one while following a single theme as much as possible each time.
It will take some time to introduce all the articles, but I would be very grateful if you could wait patiently and enjoy them.
Also, if you intended to participate in the project but your article has not been included in the magazine, please take the trouble to let me, Crystalulu, know. You can do so via the comment section of any article.
This is the magazine that contains everyone's "#Hand" articles. ↓↓↓
This is the first article I wrote about the "Hand God." ↓↓↓
This is the recruitment article for "#Hand." ↓↓↓
This is the series of introduction articles for "Letters to the Hand God." ↓↓↓