What is kindness? | The 'Circle' of Kindness 🍩

What is kindness?

Is it trying to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand them?

Is it not asking for anything in return?

Is it being able to show consideration for others?

Is it reaching out a hand when someone is in trouble?

Is it accepting others just as they are?

The words might be different for everyone, but what they all have in common is that there is an 'other person' on the other side of them.

As I enter my fourth year of using note, I have encountered so much kindness through various projects. I have also met kind friends. I have tried to keep in mind to create a place where kind people can feel comfortable. And now, I am surrounded by kind people.

So, about this project.

I received the 'Circle' of introductions 🍩.

The purpose of this project is purely to connect circles of people.

Or rather, it was an exchange, wasn't it 🍩

U-san,

Despite having lived such a harrowing life (I went to read it again, but I had to turn back because tears kept falling), she entertains us with articles that go all-in on playfulness. I get the sense that she is barely hanging on by a single thread. I think the fact that she is here right now is the result of accumulated effort, and it feels like a miracle. Even though she is walking a painful tightrope herself, she protects every life she can reach, and connecting people through kindness is not something just anyone can do. I'm sure that by doing so, she is tethering herself to this world.

But I dare not show that kind of concern usually (and I don't think she would want me to). If having even a tiny fragment of fun can help someone forget their pain for even a moment, I just hope they can end that day a little more gently and fall asleep. I don't necessarily think about that every single time, but it happens as a result. I don't go around saying things like that, though. Oh, I just said it now (´∀｀*) Hehe. Well, since she specializes in psychology, I'm sure she picks up on that too (probably).

People can laugh by connecting with someone.
They can learn about themselves.
That will surely become your place to belong.
Because kindness, too, if there were no one else there,
would surely never be created.

So.

It's hard to choose just one person, isn't it? (｡･ω･)💦

But, I have chosen.

mi-ko4690🐻‍❄️-san

It is Miko-san,
who I have been doing projects with for about three years.

Both Miko-san and I are not naturally the type to jump into a circle of people and be rowdy (I-I'm serious (｡･ω･)ﾉﾞ), but rather the kind of people who are considerate of those around us and tend to take a step back. Just like in this header. And those who have participated in Miko-san's projects already know that all of them are about gently connecting people.

Kindness is invisible to the eye.

You can only feel it.

But, with words alone, you can easily sound kind,
and you can also tell lies.
(Oh, I feel like I can tell pretty quickly when words are superficial because there is no emotion in the text. So, your kind feelings are coming through just fine, it's okay.)

So, I think it comes down to whether or not it shows in your actions.

Kindness is limited.
If you try to be kind to everyone, you will run dry.
That is why it is enough to just reach those within your reach.
Someone who can reach out
when that person is suffering or crying.
That was the 'kindness' I found within Miko-san.

Miko-san, you noticed when I was crying, even though it was from the other side of the screen. Kind people are very observant. And I also know that this is because they have known a lot of pain (you can understand that part if you read Miko-san's self-introduction).

Thank you for always being by my side.
For me, the purpose of 'Minhai' has always been to be a place where everyone belongs. To never leave anyone alone (even though it's frozen right now). There were times when I worried alone, but looking back, I was never truly alone, was I?

I wonder if kindness and coffee ☕️ are connected, too?

Well, I feel like I still haven't managed to connect my words well, and maybe something is missing. No matter how many times I reread it, I don't quite get it. The more I reread and rewrite, the longer it gets. Is it really okay to post this? Even so, I don't think it's right to keep it to myself, so I wrote it down, even if it's a bit clumsy.

So, to Miko-san,
I pass the baton of the circle of kindness 🍩.

Here you go (∩´｡•ω•)⊃🍩🐻‍❄️💓

Since it is a 'circle' (wa), kindness will surely continue to connect from here. I heard there is no deadline for this project, so when you receive this baton, please feel free to gently tell us about someone you feel is kind and close to you, whenever you have the emotional space and according to your own standards. Oh, and if it seems too difficult, it's apparently fine to pass the baton 🍩 back to U-san.

🍩( '༥'｡ )nom nom
As for donuts, I'm a Mister Donut Pon-de-Ring fan 🍩

Thank you for sticking with me until the end (｡-人-｡)