[Family] I realized that even though we are together every day, we aren't really talking
Hello! This is Shoko ^^
There was an event in Kyoto in April.
I couldn't actually participate this time, but
there is a challenge that started
because of that event.
It's called,
"Family Team Communication Challenge!"
The content is simple,
"Talk to your family face-to-face for 100 minutes"
is what it is.
The deadline is two months.
At first glance,
"100 minutes seems doable"
don't you think?
That's about 2 minutes per day.
Even though it's only 2 minutes,
this is surprisingly difficult.
We meet every day, but we aren't talking?!
I see my family every day.
We eat meals together
and go out together.
On weekdays and days off,
from waking up in the morning to going to sleep at night...
we spend a lot of time in the same space.
But,
"talking while properly facing each other"
is,
surprisingly, not happening.
The day starts with a "good morning," but
do I actually say it while looking at their face?
I don't remember...
Answering while doing chores,
listening while looking at my smartphone,
thinking about what to do next
while listening to my child.
I realized that
"being together" and
"facing each other" are completely different.
Two minutes is surprisingly long.
Actually, I
have done this challenge
in the past as well.
"Talk to my family face-to-face for 2 minutes"
I decided that,
and checked my planner to see if I did it.
...But,
I couldn't keep it up every day.
In fact, more than half the month was marked with an "X."
There were even days marked with a "?" because I couldn't remember if I had done it.
Why can't I do it?
I realized it.
"Two minutes is surprisingly long".
Look them in the eye properly,
and listen to what they have to say.
Don't talk yourself,
just listen.
That,
was harder than I thought.
But lately,
there is something I've been thinking about a lot.
No matter what I try to do,
it all starts from within a '3-meter radius'.
Family.
The people you are with every day.
The people closest to you.
If I can't cherish those people,
even if I try my best at things outside,
somehow,
things just feel off.
It feels like small,
'something is not quite right'
moments are piling up every day.
Conversely,
I feel like people who can cherish their 3-meter radius
can also be kind to those outside of it.
That is why I
decided to take on this challenge.
Honestly,
I am incredibly nervous.
I also have some anxiety about whether I can do it.
And this time,
it's a style where we all report back to each other.
Once a week,
'Who I talked to, what we talked about, and for how many minutes'
is what I will share.
I,
if I don't write these things down, I'll just forget them (laughs).
That's why,
I've decided to record it here on note as well.
I think there will be days when I can do it well,
and days when I can't.
But,
I feel like the only way to change is to keep stacking up these "small things."
If you read this article and,
"Maybe I haven't really looked at my family's faces and talked to them lately."
To you, who thought that even just a little bit.
Today,
for just two minutes
listen properly to what your loved ones have to say.
Why not make some time for that?
Why not make some time for that?
Please let me know in the comments that you'll take on the challenge too!
Let me also introduce two other people who are working hard on this challenge together.
▼kei-san
She is a nursery school principal in Osaka.
She shares her insights gained from watching many parents and children,
and how to move forward as an individual adult, in her own words.
▼Momo-chan
A working mother raising a second-grade daughter.
She struggles with parent-child communication but never gives up.
I highly recommend her audio content on resetting parental curses.
Things you can't keep up with alone
can be done together.
One step at a time, one by one, we can build it up.
I'll report back again,
so please stay tuned! ^^
Writer 📘 Shoko | Someone who wants to keep laughing through every day with family
A mother of three working full-time. Currently on maternity leave.
"Even in a busy daily life, I want to live in my own way, comfortably, and happily with my family."
With that thought in mind, I share ways to face my emotions and tips for organizing my relationships with my family.
I am practicing tips for enjoying every day without being swayed by emotions, and taking on challenges that even a working mom can do in her own way ^^
📖 E-book 'To You Who Don't Want to Get Angry Anymore'
https://amzn.asia/d/bp598I8
🎙 Broadcasting on stand.fm
https://stand.fm/channels/6386bacc82838c6aa3543ac0
I also tweet daily on X (formerly Twitter)
→ @moromorormoroco
https://twitter.com/moromorormoroco_