From a line by Haruki Murakami, my own character was born.

Hello! I’m Toshiko, living in Spain.

Even amidst the busyness of daily life, I try to listen closely to my “inner voice.”

Lately, in between raising my child, I’ve been inspired by the words of author Haruki Murakami. I’ve started a little practice: imagining the “unwritten parts” and turning those images into characters—into written words.

This idea came from some heartfelt advice I received from 💖Problem-Solving Key, Kuu-chan💖!

For example, here’s one line that really struck me:

▶️ When you read this quote, what kind of character or word comes to your mind?

Here’s how I interpreted it.

The phrase “Pain is inevitable” expresses the harsh truth that some realities are simply out of our control—like the sorrow that comes from being betrayed. No matter how much we want to avoid pain, sometimes it just happens.

On the other hand, “Suffering is optional” gave me a sense of light—a sense of hope. It suggests that we can choose how we respond emotionally, how we carry ourselves in the aftermath.

Do we shut our hearts and decide, “I’ll never trust anyone again”?

Or do we keep the courage to believe, “I still want to trust someone”?

Either way, it will hurt. But the quality of that suffering is completely different.

That’s why I came to this understanding: “The way we choose to suffer can change our lives.”

And from that realization, two characters surfaced in my mind: 機 (Ki) and 越 (Etsu).

Why those characters?

機 means a moment of opportunity or a turning point.
越 means to overcome.

We can’t erase the pain. But we can choose to face forward and grow from it. That, to me, is hope.

And so, I created a new word: 機越 (Kietsu).
It’s my own personal word, meaning “the moment to overcome.”

Looking back, I realize I’ve encountered many “Kietsu” moments in my life.

What kind of character would come to your mind?

“Faith.” “Endurance.” “Calm.” “Support.” “Path.” — Each one is beautiful in its own way.

I’m not a psychologist or an expert, but through this kind of reflection, I feel like I can meet the voice inside me.

If you feel like it, I’d love for you to share your character too.

Somewhere in the world, your word might become a light for someone else.