One of the key performance indicators of a successful partnership is mutual support. Support comes in various forms such as collaborative brainstorming, leaning on each other’s strengths, and the occasional nudge, “Hey, when are you going to publish your next lifestyle post?”

Thanks Scott.

So in that spirit, let’s talk about something that has been swirling in my mind since my family went on spring break. Kawaii. (No, not Hawaii or even Kauai. Kawaii.)

April 2022 found our family in Disney World, and one afternoon I took refuge in Japan’s museum, part of Epcot’s World Showcase. I’m always up for learning something new, but here I was face to face with an entire exhibit about the culture of cuteness. Cuteness is a culture? I must have been absent that day in school, because this was the first time I had ever heard about it.

“Roughly translated as ‘cuteness,’ kawaii is one of the most frequently used Japanese words. In a broader sense, it describes the culture of celebrating all things adorable and embracing fictional characters as the embodiment of positivity. Originating as a distinctly Japanese cultural trend, the concept soon evolved into the worldwide phenomenon it is today, spreading through many aspects of modern life, including art, fashion, technology, and even food.”

As defined by Wikipedia, the word kawaii originally derives from the phrase kao hayushi, which literally means “(one's) face (is) aglow.” Perhaps you can gain this facial glow from the sun while laying out on the beaches of Hawaii (or Kauai) and taking in the stunning landscapes. However, kawaii is focused on items that produce happy and positive feelings as well as an openness to incorporating them into your world.

For a long time, I’ve seen store shelves filled with Hello Kitty and other small trinkets and wondered about the sales volume of these items. Do people over the age of 6 really buy a lot of this? The simple answer is yes. Different from the incorporation of glitter (Scott really loves when I can work glitter into my posts), cuteness doesn’t have to sparkle. More often, it takes the form of bright eyes, pastel colors, and animal faces.

Goodbye sandwich-in-a-brown-paper-bag. Hello kawaii-inspired bento boxes for lunch. Now, don’t get me wrong, I took great pride in packing lunches when my kids were little. I tried to think about all the food groups and being colorful. But I never quite took it to the level of cuteness that some Kawaii lovers implement. Get over to Instagram and give @littlemissbento a look. My mind is blown away by the cuteness, creativity, and time put into these designs. And I have to admit that I would suffer from a depletion of happiness by biting down into one of these adorable creations.

Can I dress in a kawaii style? Oh, yes I can! Kawaii influence in fashion means an infusion of ruffles and bows sometimes taking on anime character flare. While I’m not confident enough to sport some of these strong doll-like looks to the next Alliance meeting, it makes me smile to see the whimsy and playfulness that can be had when dressing. Kinda puts your professional mullet (business shirt paired with pajama bottoms) to shame.

How about kawaii correspondence? You bet!! Try it in your emails because, yes, there are kawaii emoji keyboards accessible on your phone and computer. (Try holding down the Windows key, then type a semicolon if you are a PC user) (?´?`?).

I like the idea of incorporating joy and happiness into my day. I’m not quite sure why more of us don’t. Maybe you just needed a little nudge too. Well, here it is. You have permission to kawaii your office or home to the gills. Don’t be fearful, you can still be functional and professional, as well as cute, bright, and happy. Think about the things that give your face a glow and get them into a prominent place where you see them. What’s my next kawaii addition? A super cute frame to put around that picture of us on spring break. What’s yours?