My note. The words of kirinoha-san I encountered beyond the "not being read" phase, and the treasure that is "human connection" 🌿

To those who always read my posts,
and to those reading for the first time,

Hello 😊

Thank you
for finding my article.

I am a working mom
who loves beauty,

working as a secretary in Tokyo.My self-introduction article is here 👇

I update slowly, about twice a week,
but I look forward to connecting with you 😊

Today's story is brought to you along with kirinoha-san's article ♪
🙌

🌿 About kirinoha-san

To be honest, it took a little bit of courage
to write this article today.

That is because I am introducing an article by kirinoha-san, who always wraps me in warm words.

kirinoha-san is one of the
noter-san's I respect.

Because of that,

I feel quite humbled
to be introducing kirinoha-san 🙇‍♀️

But today, I wanted to write this article with the meaning of saying, "Thank you for everything."

I have been on note for about two and a half months now,

and I met kirinoha-san when I had been here for less than a month.

I had finally emerged from a "dark week" where my posts weren't being read at all,

and it was around the time when people were starting to read my work little by little.

I remember it was a time when I didn't have confidence in my articles yet,

and I felt a little anxious, wondering,

"Are my thoughts actually getting across?"

For me, kirinoha-san's articles
were always a source of many lessons and warm realizations.

And a little while ago, they even introduced my article in one of their own!

I remember how I was so happy I could jump for joy,
and my heart felt warm and fuzzy even now ☺️

Today, along with this story, which is one of my favorites among kirinoha-san's articles,

I would like to talk about my thoughts on note and about "human connections."

kirinoha-san's article is here 👇

🍃Words that I overlapped with the me of that day

Facing the screen of a computer or smartphone,
the moment you pour your heart into writing a piece,
click the publish button,
and gently let it go.

“Will this reach someone?”
“No, maybe no one will read it after all...”

Have you ever felt like that, with expectations and anxieties swirling together, as if you were left all alone in the darkness?

This is exactly,

the me from when I first started note.

As I wrote in my self-introduction article,
I have a quite positive personality.

I don't worry about most things.

But, only back then, it was truly different.

“Is my writing not interesting?”
“Is what I want to convey actually being conveyed?”

I was thinking only about things like that.

About two weeks after that time,
when it started to be read little by little,

I encountered this article by kirinoha-san.

At the beginning of the article, there was this sentence.

The moment I saw this sentence,
my chest tightened.

“Ah, this is about me back then.”

That is what I thought.

At that time,

“If I write a good article, surely someone will find it.”

I thought so lightly.

So,

I was just thinking about posting every day.

But reality wasn't that sweet.

It wasn't being read.

"I have to write more."

It still wasn't being read.

"It's still not enough."

Every day was spent repeating thoughts like that.

Before I knew it, even while doing my main job, my head was full of note. note. note.

I was worried about notifications,
I was worried about the number of likes,

I couldn't focus on my work.

There were times like that.

Looking back now, I think my perspective had become quite narrow 😓

I should have started note to enjoy it, but
before I knew it, I was just chasing numbers.

And then, I realized one more big thing.

I was so desperate to write my own articles that I had almost no room to read other people's articles.

Thinking about it now, I really think I was self-centered.

Not having a "foundation" was exactly what this was.

🤝 What I changed was "connecting" rather than "writing"

Since then, I stopped obsessing over posting every day.

Of course, writing articles is important.

But, even more than that

"I should go read other people's articles."

That is what I started to think.

"What a wonderful article."
"I like this way of thinking."

When I thought that,

I would honestly press the "Like" button,
and try writing a comment too.

I actively engaged in "reaching out to others myself."

Starting with getting people to remember me.

It really is "building a foundation."

Nothing changes if you just wait.

Of course, I couldn't reach out to everyone, but at the very least, I would go to see authors from various genres, and if I felt their worldview or content was wonderful, I would press "Like."

As I worked hard on building that foundation,
strangely enough,

the people I had been reaching out to "from my side"
started to naturally take an interest in me "from their side" as well.

It felt a bit like having a crush on someone and then having them notice you back!

I remember being filled with such a happy feeling.🥰

"Connection begets connection."

It was the moment I realized

that this was exactly what it meant.

To digress a little,
as an aside,

actually, I was bad at writing comments at first too.😓

Especially with popular authors, when an article had a lively comment section,

"Is it okay for me to suddenly jump in...?"

I would think things like that,
and it took a bit of courage.😓

But that small step

gradually brought me many connections.✨

That was when I finally

realized the fun of note.

note is truly a mysterious place, isn't it.

I don't know their faces.
I don't know their names.
Their age,
and there are even people whose gender I don't know.

And yet, when I read their writing,

their personality and,

Sometimes, even subtle ups and downs in mood,
like 'I wonder if they're feeling a bit down today?',

mysteriously come across.

And,

What I always think as a writer is,

that words of emotion spun by oneself

have a 'soul dwelling within them'.

That is what I mean.

Even if you borrow the power of AI,
AI cannot express the emotional part.

That is precisely why,

connecting despite only having text, being drawn to someone for some reason despite only having words,

I thought that such phenomena happen naturally on note ✨

I am now filled with gratitude for having met so many like-minded people through my articles,

and above all, I am strongly realizing the importance of 'human connection' ✨

😊 Now, I no longer worry about the number of likes

Actually, I don't worry about the number of likes as much as I used to.

It's not that I've gained composure,
or that my followers have increased,
or that I've become famous.

It's just that,

unlike back then,I no longer let numbers alone dictate my happiness or sadness.

In the beginning,

when I woke up in the morning,

'I wonder if there are more likes than yesterday.'
'I guess it really didn't get read after all ⤵︎'

In that way,
my feelings were being swayed by the numbers😓

But now,　

The first thing I think of when morning comes is,

"I wonder if so-and-so's article has been updated♪"
"I'll reply to the person who commented yesterday♪"

Things like that are all that
overflow in my mind😊

It's strange, isn't it?

To think that I would stop caring about the numbers
only after I started getting read to a certain extent.

Of course, it would be a lie
to say I don't care at all🤭

For example,

"I think the previous article was better than this one..."

I honestly think things like that sometimes.

But I don't go out of my way to think deeply about the causes,
or analyze them.

Not caring about the number of likes.

Why is that?

Surely it is

because I no longer feel the appeal of just the "numbers"

that is why.

Even if it's few, I've come to think that

it's fine as long as it reaches the people I want it to reach.

I've become able to think that way.

Because I know there are "people who always come to read."

Because I know there are "people who leave comments."
And,

I'm glad we could meet again☺️Because note has become a place where I can feel that way.

That is what it is.

🌳 Human connection is, for me too, the greatest stock.

Because I am who I am now, there is a phrase in kirinoha-san's article that particularly stayed with me.

It is said that note is 'stock-type'.

I, too, previously...

As I talked about when I released an article titled 'I still receive likes on articles I wrote a long time ago',

the articles I write can reach someone months or years later.

But I don't think that is just because note is 'stock-type'.

I don't think that's the only reason.

It's not just that.

I believe it's more than that.

The fact that 'human connections' gradually accumulate.

That is what 'stock' truly means.

People I have spoken with in the comments once.

People who come to read my articles time and time again.

People who tell me, 'I look forward to your updates.'

These connections

continue to accumulate within me, becoming precious 'stock'.

That is why I am still able to enjoy writing articles like this even now ✒️

😇 I, too, have been saved by my connections with others

I mentioned at the beginning that kirinoha-san introduced my article before, but

the reason I was happy was

not because I thought,

'My article has spread!'

'Ah, I have been building 'connections' little by little...☺️'

Being able to realize that
was what made me happiest of all ✨

In these past two and a half months, I have met many wonderful fellow noters.

Reading everyone's articles,

laughing,
shedding tears,
being made to think,
and receiving encouragement.

Such time has now become

the greatest joy of continuing on note.

🌱 If there is anyone who is struggling

If there is anyone right now who is struggling alone, thinking 'even if I write, it won't be read,'

I would like to say this.

Writing articles is, of course, important.

But, just as much as that,

I want you to value connecting with people as well.

'That was wonderful.'
'I resonated with this.'

Even just those few words are enough.

Those small words lead to new connections.

Just as I was ☺️

And, as kirinoha-san also said,

'Connections become assets.'
'One connection creates the next.'

I hope that you can

actually experience that for yourself.

That is what I think ✨

There is no need to compare yourself to anyone,

be yourself,
at your own pace,

to connect with the people who matter to you,
doing your own activities ☺️

That is the image I have.

It might sound a bit exaggerated, but

'Human connection' is, for me,
the greatest treasure that note has given me.

✨Finally

To everyone who reads my articles.

Thank you always ☺️

The fact that you come to read them.
The fact that we can exchange words in the comments.

Each and every one of those things

has become a precious treasure to me 😌

From here on out as well, at my own pace, being myself,
while cherishing the bonds with all of you,
I would like to continue writing articles 😊🌿

I hope that for everyone who read today's article,
many wonderful connections will be born as well ✨✨

And kirinoha-san, thank you for kindly agreeing to let me write this article!

🩷I would be happy if you read it!!

kirinoha-san introduced my article👇

The 'My note. series' has now reached its fourth installment🙌

This series consists of articles mainly related to note, outside of beauty, health, and daily life.

If you have time, I would be happy if you could read my past works as well☺️

This is the article that kirinoha-san introduced.
Series third installment👇

This is an article I wrote about the joy I felt when my past articles were read.
Series second installment👇

This is an article I wrote about my thoughts on my note article creation style.
Series first installment👇