"I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university."
- Albert Einstein
Respect isn't about status. It shows up in how I handle and protect things, people, and ideas.
In origami, respect begins long before the first fold.
It is present in how the paper is chosen, how it is handled, and whether its qualities are allowed to guide the making. Some papers ask for bold transformation or intricate details. Others ask for simplicity.
This hexagon letter fold is made from a sheet of grassy, textured handmade A4 paper that waited quietly in my collection for decades. Nothing terribly precious - but certainly beautiful enough to deserve the right moment.
Now it serves by holding something meaningful: words of encouragement, and enough good loose tea for a shared pot.
The hexagonal form, known in Japan as Kikkō (tortoiseshell), symbolizes protection, stability, and longevity. Its strength comes not from force, but from balanced structure.
Good folding practice reminds me that respect, too, is a form of attention - to the unique needs of a person, a situation, or the material at hand.
Today I practice respect by handling words carefully and honoring boundaries — in paper, in people, and in myself, choosing care over force wherever I can.
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