Disclosure: This article contains affiliate advertising.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways smiling quietly.\u201d<\/p>Kenji Miyazawa<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n
Translated for this article from \u201c\u30a4\u30c4\u30e2\u30b7\u30c5\u30ab\u30cb\u30ef\u30e9\u30c3\u30c6\u30f0\u30eb\u201d in Miyazawa\u2019s \u201c\u3014\u96e8\u30cb\u30e2\u30de\u30b1\u30ba\u3015.\u201d This is not an official English translation.<\/p>\n
You spoke a little sharply this morning.<\/p>\n
You were busy. There were reasons. Still, your own voice keeps replaying in your mind: \u201cI could have said that differently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do not make smiling another obligation<\/h2>\n
The poem also expresses the wish to become such a person.<\/p>\n
My own reading is not that we must smile regardless of how we feel.<\/p>\n
Some days are difficult. Grading our smiles on those days would only add another burden.<\/p>\n
Instead, I want to hold the image as somewhere to return when I have lost my patience.<\/p>\n
One sharp moment does not have to define the day<\/h2>\n
We cannot remove what we said, but we can add something different.<\/p>\n
\u201cI sounded harsh earlier.\u201d
\u201cI was rushing. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d
\u201cCould you tell me again?\u201d<\/p>\nThe other person may not respond warmly straight away. Even so, we can take responsibility for how we speak next.<\/p>\n
Begin with gentleness, not cheerfulness<\/h2>\n
Answer carefully. Let someone finish. If you are tired, say so rather than forcing a conversation.<\/p>\n
We do not need to be entertaining or endlessly upbeat to treat others\u2014and ourselves\u2014with care.<\/p>\n
Today was not perfectly calm.<\/p>\n
The next sentence is still yours to choose.<\/p>\n
Quotation and poem source: Aozora Bunko: Kenji Miyazawa, \u201c\u3014\u96e8\u30cb\u30e2\u30de\u30b1\u30ba\u3015\u201d (Japanese)<\/a>.<\/p>\n
How are you feeling today?<\/h2>\n
Struggling with relationships? Explore more words for connection.<\/a><\/p>\n