Let's Spread the Circle of Smiles Together: The Case of Tanuki-ism—A Laid-back Missionary Activity That Started in the Comments Section

It started in a very small place.
In the comments section of Itsunademonattemo-san's article.

This is the article. There are many articles by noters that will make you smile.
Please, do take a read.

And I, too,
read it as usual, wrote down what I felt,
and just like that, hit send.

Then, what came back was,
“I know you are busy, but please continue your missionary work🙇🤣”—that one sentence.

Missionary work.
That is quite a big word.

But when said in the comments section,
for some reason, it doesn't feel heavy.

“Well then, shall the tanuki do it?”
That was the mood.

Not as a cult leader, not as a preacher,
but just as a laid-backtanuki.

What is Tanuki-ism?

Tanuki-ism
does not uphold grand teachings.

It does not raise its voice.
It does not hand out correct answers.

All it has
are the
five habits that one naturally picks up while living.

1. Don't push yourself

Do not make pushing yourself a virtue.
First, notice that you are pushing yourself.

Tanuki are not good at pushing themselves.
If they push themselves, they immediately forget how to transform.

“I’m pushing myself today.”
The moment you realize that,
your ears pop back to their original state.

That moment
is the first smile in Tanuki-ism.

(2) Transform Honestly

You don't have to reveal everything.
Transforming is not a weakness, but wisdom.

Tanuki
change their appearance depending on the situation.

Energetic tanuki.
Quiet tanuki.
Tanuki that pretend to be human for the time being.

If you manage to get through the day safely,
you can just
gently smile at yourself and say, 'Well done.'.

(3) Don't Compare

Don't walk at someone else's pace.
Trust your own internal clock.

There are fast tanuki,
and there are tanuki resting in the shade of a tree.

It's not about which one is right,
both are tanuki.

On days when you move at your own pace,
your face is usually relaxed.

(4) Even If You Fail, Become Round

Don't be sharp, don't blame,
if you fall, get a little plumper. That is your nourishment.

Tanuki fall down.
They fall down often.

But because of that,
they become a little rounder bit by bit.

If you can laugh later and say,
'Well, that's a good story too,'
then that failure is already a win for the tanuki.

(5) Don't Fear Being Alone, But Don't Become Isolated

You don't have to flock together.
But you don't have to be isolated either.

There are days when I wander alone,
and days when I feel someone's presence.

A word exchanged in the comments section.
The presence of someone I can remember.

With just that,
a circle of smiles has already formed.

I made a video.

There are twoguestshere. They are
Shiba Inu An-chanandCamérine-chan.
I got permission from the office.

Please watch with a warm heart, considering it a charm that the narration isn't accurate or cuts off midway.

From the comments section to a circle of smiles

The Tanuki Teachings do not say,
"Let's stay smiling.".

Don't push yourself.
Protect yourself.
Don't compare.
Even if you fall, you'll just roll into a ball.
Don't be too alone.

If you keep doing that,
you'll find yourself smiling before you know it.

So,
the words
"Please spread the teachings"said in the comments section,
were taken by the Tanuki like this.

You don't have to do anything grand.
If you can, just leave a single word behind.

Yes,in your comments section.
Smile, that is.

The missionary work that started from the comments section,
is still quietly continuing today.

#TanukiTeachings
#LetsSpreadTheCircleOfSmilesTogether
#LiveLaidBack
#DontPushYourself
#DontCompare
#EvenIfYouFailYouWillRollIntoABall
#DontFearBeingAlone
#ButDontBeLonely