A story about how expressing gratitude circulates to make the recipient, the people around them, and yourself happy

Hello, this is Yarapon!
January 21st was my birthday. However, having lost my sister this year, I let my birthday pass by. I just couldn't get into a celebratory mood.

In the midst of that, I received a kind comment on a birthday post I made last year, which led me to look back at it again.

The feelings I experienced from a comment on last year's article!

On my birthday last year, I wrote an article like this.
“Instead of lamenting how old I've become on my birthday, I should enjoy the rest of my life!”

What really hit home in that article was comparing the icon images I used and feeling, 'Wow, I've really aged.'

As I wrote in my main account's post today, it feels like the passage of time accelerates as you get older.

When I was young, it felt like a local train; in middle age, it became an express train; and now, it feels like I've transferred from the 'Hikari' super-express to the 'Nozomi' super-express, racing ahead. 😓

But there's no point in lamenting that, so it was an article about having a positive attitude of 'enjoying the time I have left' rather than complaining.

And the comment I received on that past article about my birthday really made me happy.

The person who left that comment is Kaori Art Works, who is active in [Horoscope] and [Art].

Out of consideration for my sister's passing, they intentionally waited a few days to send me a birthday message on last year's article. Their kindness and thoughtfulness truly touched my heart.

The chain of 'gratitude' fostered by note!

Receiving this comment made me realize once again the importance of expressing gratitude.

I was filled with gratitude for the birthday message that Kaori Art Works took the time and care to send me. And being able to express that gratitude in writing like this makes me happy as well.

A chain of gratitude mysteriously brightens one's mood, doesn't it? When you are grateful for someone's kindness and express that gratitude, it makes not only them but also yourself feel warm and happy. It is truly the power of 'thank you'.

Keep a heart of gratitude as you age!

As you get older, it's easy to focus on the 'things you've lost.' But when you encounter connections with others or heartwarming episodes like this, it cheers you up and makes you think, 'Life is still worth living.'

I'm no longer at an age to celebrate birthdays, but I decided that every time my birthday comes around, I will be grateful for having lived this long in good health, and make it a day to savor and express that gratitude.

That is what I've come to feel at this age: that I hope to continue welcoming future birthdays while holding onto a sense of gratitude, even if just a little bit at a time.

For this year's birthday, I wrote an article on a walking method called 'fatigue-reducing one-foot stepping,' and I want to cherish taking care of my body to maintain health just as much as I cherish having a heart of gratitude.

So, this time it was a story about
"A story about how expressing gratitude comes back around to make the recipient, the people beyond them, and yourself happy"—a story where I realized the importance of being grateful and expressing that gratitude. 😊
*The illustration for the header image was borrowed from Maple Kaede-san.

See you!

Thank you Comes back around Carefree

<Here is the article from my main account posted yesterday!>