“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” — Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Today, pause for 20 seconds
Ask someone: ‘How are you, really?’
Listen. Make them feel seen.
If your closest companion today happens to be a plant, take a moment to check in. Ask how it’s doing. Then pause for 20 seconds and really listen: through its leaves, its soil, its general leafy vibe.
Let those 20 seconds feel special.
If your get a moment to talk to your pet today, give them an extra 20 seconds. Just to ask how they’re doing. They’ll respond with their eyes, posture, movement and ‘voice’.
Listen carefully.
Maybe there’s someone close to you today: a friend, a colleague, a family member. Skip the usual ‘How have you been?’ and ask something like ‘If your mood were a soup today, what kind would it be?’ or ‘If your shoes could talk, what story would they tell about your day?’ Ask something just about them.
And then simply listen.
Children have so much to say, especially when we truly listen. Try asking them something you’ve never asked before: ‘How are your hair bulbs doing today?’ or ‘If you were flying through the sky right now, what song would you be singing?’
You might be surprised by the answers.
If you’re with your partner today, make them feel seen. Ask them ‘What flavour feels most like you lately?’ or ‘If we were characters in a book, what kind of chapter would today be?’. Let the questions open a little window.
And see what flies in.
Lantern Notes 