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ArtistA half-bust illustration in a luminous, high-energy chibi-influenced style, combining soft painterly gradients with dense glittering particle effects and floating bokeh lights. Clean, confident linework defines the character, while warm golden sparkles and glowing dots drift across the scene, creating a magical, celebratory atmosphere. Flat yet radiant colors with gentle cel shading and subtle airbrush highlights. Subject: A young woman with deep brown skin dusted in shimmering golden freckles that glow like stardust across her cheeks, nose, and collarbones. Her face is rounded and youthful, with a small nose and softly parted lips forming a quiet, surprised “o” shape. Her expression conveys wonder and gentle awe, eyes wide and reflective. Eyes: Large, glossy, and expressive, with heterochromia. One eye is a vivid emerald green with layered light reflections; the other is a bright sapphire blue, equally luminous. Both eyes feature oversized anime-style highlights, enhancing a sense of innocence and magic. Hair: Thick, voluminous, and naturally curly, framing her face in soft spirals. The curls are dark chestnut brown with warm highlights, rendered with smooth gradients and subtle shine. Loose curls spill around her temples and cheeks, adding softness and movement. Pose and framing: Half-bust view, shoulders and upper chest visible. Her shoulders are relaxed, posture open and upright, facing the viewer directly. No accessories or jewelry, keeping full focus on her face, eyes, and skin texture. Lighting and effects: Warm, golden light seems to emanate from the sparkles themselves, casting soft highlights on her skin and hair. Floating bokeh orbs in shades of gold, amber, and soft yellow surround her, some overlapping the subject to create depth. The light feels enveloping and joyful rather than harsh. Background: An abstract, softly blurred backdrop in warm neutral tones, dissolving into glowing particles and light flecks. No discernible environment, only an immersive field of light and color that frames the character without distraction. Mood: Enchanted, joyful, and tender. The image feels like a moment of discovery or quiet amazement, suspended in a shower of light. Bottom caption, centered inside the image: © Emiliano Girina
Yesterday I spent a long time on the phone with a friend. The call was intentional: we needed to talk about a recent, very negative event. From there, almost naturally, the conversation stretched on and began touching one difficult aspect after another, all connected to the same core issue.
At some point, I felt the need to step away from that downward spiral. I told her I wanted to share something good. I told her that—just as I’ve already said to my sister—I would sign without hesitation to meet a partner like her.
Her response was immediate and refreshingly honest. She said she has her own issues, her rough edges, her peculiarities. Of course she does. Who doesn’t? The idea of a person “without flaws” is a mythical creature—like a unicorn, or a machine that runs forever without ever needing maintenance. In fact, unrealistic expectations of perfection are among the most skilled craftsmen of deep disappointment: they work quietly, with remarkable consistency, and they always deliver exactly what they promise.
So why did I tell her?
Because it felt right.
Because she truly is a good person.
Because a sincere compliment should always find space, not excuses to be withheld.
Because we should want to care for each other a little more—and say it out loud.
Because emotional honesty, when it asks for nothing in return, is a form of respect.
We live immersed in a web of social constructs that feel tired, slightly outdated—rules that teach us to hold back kind words out of fear of being misunderstood, of seeming weak, intrusive, inappropriate. And meanwhile, we accumulate silences full of things left unsaid—things that could have lightened a day, strengthened a bond, subtly changed the course of a relationship.
How many chances do we miss to give—and receive—a compliment because someone, for some opaque reason, decides that “it’s not appropriate”? And more importantly: who actually benefits from this forced restraint? Certainly not human relationships, which too often end up trapped in a strange emotional lose-lose.
Saying something kind is not a promise.
It’s not a request.
It’s not a contract.
It’s an act. A small act of care. And like most simple, powerful things, it works best when it’s direct—when it’s said without strategy, without subtext, looking the other person in the eyes.
If you care about someone, tell them.
If you appreciate someone—as a friend, a colleague, or romantically—tell them.
Say it clearly. Say it gently. Say it without unnecessary hesitation.
Don’t keep the good things inside. Good things don’t wear out when they’re expressed—they multiply. And the world, which is never short on bad news, desperately needs people who consciously choose to share the good ones.
Be kind. Not as a moral pose, but as a daily practice. Because kindness, when it’s genuine, is a very concrete form of emotional intelligence—and a small act of resistance against the spread of cynicism.
