Do any of my acquaintances like aquariums?

I am participating in the Web Writer Lab column project again this month.
The theme for June 2025 is "Things I want to challenge myself with now."

Something I planned to challenge myself with in 2025.
Or rather, something I wish I had challenged myself with around last month.

That is, interviewing people who love aquariums to have them talk about their "aquarium passion."

I want to draw out that 100% pure "love."
And while I'm at it, I want to feature it on my blog.

I also work as an interview writer.
So, interviews should be second nature to me... or so I thought.

Wait? I don't have any acquaintances who like aquariums.

For starters, I don't have any "aquarium buddies" I can easily reach out to.
I don't even have any acquaintances who openly declare, "I love aquariums!"

There are people I've interacted with a little on social media.
Even so, it's not a relationship I would call an acquaintance.

I'm shy, so I can't reach out to people I don't know well.
Even with acquaintances I haven't seen in a while, I get nervous.

Moreover, when the other person is an "aquarium lover," I feel like I have to be extra careful.

Well, can I actually do this?
How do you even make "aquarium buddies" in the first place?

...

Oh, I remembered.
I have a track record of making "writer buddies."

After joining the Web Writer Lab, even a shy person like me made writer friends.
Last month, I went to visit Inuyama Castle with them.

The reason I made writer friends was probably because I attended an offline meetup.
Maybe meeting people face-to-face offline really does help close the distance between people.

In other words, if I have the opportunity to meet people offline, I might be able to make "aquarium buddies."

I'm not good at participating in places where people gather.
But thanks to gathering the courage to attend the Lab's offline meetup, I don't feel as scared as I did a few years ago.

I'll probably manage somehow.

No, it's no good... what if I get rejected?

There are still challenges remaining.
My blog can hardly be called influential.

Therefore, I cannot offer the benefit of increased traffic or brand awareness to those I ask.

I'm in trouble.
I can't make use of the know-how I cultivated as a freelance writer.

I can't bring myself to say, "Please let me interview you!"
I keep thinking, "What if I get rejected?"

Am I really this powerless without the backing of a media outlet with high traffic?

...

Ah, I remember now.
I was nervous the first time I requested an interview at an aquarium, too.

My hand was shaking when I pressed the send button on that email as well.

But, surprisingly, they accepted quite easily.
I even covered my second aquarium last month.

Come to think of it, I think I just decided to "just send it anyway."
When it came down to it, everyone who agreed to the interview was kind.

I'll probably be fine.

You want to take on a challenge now, don't you?

I always feel anxious when I'm about to take on a challenge.
But when I actually try, it ends surprisingly easily.

I think I'm probably overthinking it.
While I'm marking time, only negative thoughts keep growing.

Since I'm thinking "I want to challenge myself," I should just stop complaining and do it.

With that said, I will make a plan by next month.
I will take on the challenge with the courage to be disliked.

...

By the way, who should I reach out to?
Is there anyone here who likes aquariums?

Discord Name: Takuya Ito (taku)
#WebWriterLab2506ColumnProject