How to Stand Out

I'm baking rice flour chiffon cake again today.
Why do I want to bake so much?

Because it's the snack I want to eat most right now.
Plus, chiffon cake
ranges from simple tastes
to a variety of flavors,
so when you start trying them, the possibilities just keep expanding, haha.

Today, I really
wanted to try baking a ripe banana chiffon cake.
I've been wanting to make it for a while,
but I didn't have enough time,
so I gave up in the middle of the night, leaving the flour and sugar I'd already measured waiting,
and the bananas in the freezer,
just waiting for the right moment, haha.

I thought I'd do it right after lunch, but

I had to give up because I had a parent-teacher conference at school.

She's a young, vibrant,
cute teacher who looks like Kanna Hashimoto.
I wonder how this bright and energetic teacher
sees my son?

It was just a short exchange.
She had perfectly
understood my sensitive son,
which put me at ease.

She even grasped
the expressions my son couldn't put into words,
and I thought, 'Oh, I'm so glad.'
He's serious and a hard worker.
She even understood that he tends to push himself
more than I realized.

There's pressure to finish school lunch with everyone else.
She noticed when he looked pale from trying too hard,
and she's been telling him
that he doesn't have to push himself more than necessary.

Oh, I'm so grateful to be blessed
with another good teacher.
I'm thankful that he's being watched over
and raised by so many people like this.

Human connections
are truly mysterious,
but I think they are well-designed.

At that time and place,
the perfect person or
environment is provided.

I felt so relieved,

and with daily gratitude
for my son who is
really doing his best,
I decided to make his favorite strawberry sandwich for a snack,
since I had whipped the cream before I left.
I immediately bought bread and strawberries on the way home
and started.

While strawberries are still in season! ❣️

Once the strawberries are sandwiched, I want to let them set for at least 30 minutes
and chill them before cutting.

So, should I do it in the meantime? I thought,
and I ended up reaching for the chiffon cake after all, haha.

Just as I put the chiffon cake in the oven,
it was the perfect time to cut the strawberry fruit sandwich.

I thought I'd do the same and put in the same amount, but
Hmm, I had a big lunch, so I'll stick to one 💦

Brewing coffee

While baking rice flour chiffon cake,
I look at this cake
rising up so vigorously again.

Overflowing
Overflowing from the mold.
I thought about that
once again.

The fear of revealing your true self,
how much everyone fears that,
I was talking about that on the phone again this morning,
and it really resonated with me.

Sensitive people
really live their lives being so careful every day.
The faces of so many different people come to mind.
My circle is full of such people.
Birds of a feather really do flock together.

What I've experienced from overflowing,
the fear of being ostracized.

Trying not to stand out from the group,
trying to stay in harmony,
not wanting to be resented or envied.

With all sorts of thoughts,
trying not to stand out,
trying not to overflow.

Living as yourself,
expressing yourself as you are.

Both adults and children, in a sense,
go through strange learning and experiences at some point,
and often end up giving up.

Somewhere along the way, thinking 'oh well',
giving up,
faking it,
and pretending it never happened.

I've done that plenty of times myself.

But, but still.
And the price I paid for repeating that was quite
painful.

Body and soul falling apart,
losing my balance,
reaching my absolute limit both mentally and physically.

I ended up living like I was dead.

Even if it wasn't exactly being incredibly miserable,
no,
not living as myself
for me,
was
tremendously
sad.
It was clearly miserable,and it was the same as not being alive.

Even if you manage to get by,
if you are not living or utilizing your life
in accordance with your true soul,
it is essentially the same as
surviving while being as good as dead.

Now I have had my second awakening,
and I am being challenged to live
truly as myself.

There are no more of the same mistakes
or the same paths as before left for me.
The bridges have been burned.

I must only forge a new path.

And it is not a burden,
but a path of joy, excitement, and inspiration.

Moreover, though I may seem alone,
in reality, I am not.

The necessary environment and people,
everything is already prepared.
I can feel it.

It has already been given to me,
and I have a vivid vision
that I will increasingly
meet such kindred spirits
from here on out.

I am anticipating that,
feeling excited,
and even feeling reassured
already.
I know I will meet them.

Finally, finally.
I have made it this far.

Taking all of the many
indescribable experiences I have had so far
and using them as fuel.

As things given to me
to help expand
my capacity.

I will just steadily
prepare for the next stage.

After all, I don't have to do it all by myself.

Let's fully follow this process,
follow the guidance,
steadily do what is in front of me,
and enjoy this journey whose full scope is unknown.

From now on, my own
sensibilities and individuality
will be necessary for living.

I will leave what anyone can do
to machines and robots,

and maximize the talents
and abilities built into this body.

Myself,
and everyone involved

Together, having fun and getting excited,
deeply moving our hearts,
we are on a journey to enjoy life.

Using everything I am good at,
everything I love,
and everything I possess.

Standing out in a big way.

For those who are afraid
of standing out
or being noticed,
let's all do it together.

If you express yourself even while afraid,
you might find it's actually okay,
or have an experience where the fun outweighs the fear.
To the point where you don't even have time to worry about what others think.

To the point where we can laugh and say,
those who enjoy this world are the winners, right?

First, I will
start here and express myself once again.

Before I knew it today,
I was fired up! Haha
But I'm serious!