Hello, everybody.
I'm recording this episode from my backyard right after we got some rain today. As I sit here, I'm listening to the bees go in and out of their hive, and there's something deeply soothing about this simple moment. It's exactly what I want to talk about today—not bees specifically, though I could probably spend quite a bit of time on that topic.
Last week, I spent time observing while walking my dogs, and this week, my mind is drawn to a similar theme: the art of deeply listening.
The Presence In the Sound
When we truly listen—not just hear, but truly listen—we open ourselves to a whole world of grounding that's happening around us all the time. The bee's hum isn't just background noise; it's the sound of life working, of purpose in motion. The bird's song isn't just pretty; it adds to the layers of beauty and awareness around us.
These sounds are invitations into presence. They're happening right now, asking nothing of us except our attention. And when we give that attention, something shifts. We're no longer just in our heads, spinning through worries or planning the next thing. We're here, anchored by sound to this exact moment.
Why Listening Matters Now
In what feels like apocalyptic times, we need these spoonfuls of grounding more than ever. The act of truly listening pulls us out of the spiral of overwhelming news cycles and endless worry about things beyond our control.
When we listen with intention, we're practicing a form of meditation that doesn't require special cushions, apps, gurus, or perfect conditions. We're simply returning to one of our most basic human capacities: the ability to witness life as it unfolds.
Making Space for Listening
The beauty of this practice is its accessibility. Whether you're in a backyard listening to bees, on a city street listening to the sounds of people, or inside listening to children play outside, the opportunity for grounding awareness is always available.
These moments of listening create small pockets of peace in our days. They remind us that beneath all the chaos and uncertainty, life continues in its essential rhythms. Rain falls, bees work, dogs need walking, and in these simple realities, we can find our footing again.
So this week, I invite you to experiment with listening, not as a task to add to your list, but as a gift you give yourself—a spoonful of grounding when the world feels too heavy to carry.
Turn the volume up for this video.
A Practice to Try
I'm always about trying to set myself up for success. None of this meditating 20 minutes out the gate, but what is attainable and sustainable for me, my life, and lowering my stress hormones. Try this for shits and giggles and let me know how it goes.
Option 1: Listen for 5 minutes, 5 times a day
1 minute first thing in the morning, when the house is quiet.
1 minute at tea time or when you're on your last coffee of the morning.
1 minute at lunch.
1 minute in the afternoon.
1 minute in the evening when you go to sleep.
As you listen, ask yourself: What can you hear? What are the different qualities in the different places you find yourself? What is different at various times of the day? What birds, children, rain, crickets, cats, and dog noises can you hear?
Notice it in your body. Is it in your chest? In your belly? In your shoulders? Is there expansion? Is there more space? This is cortisol-lowering. Practice paying attention.
Option 2: Listen for 5 minutes, once a day.
Choose one time to practice:
In the morning
In the evening
While you walk your dogs
Feel free to switch it up: one day in the morning, another in the evening, and another when you're on a walk. And just like option 1: What are you hearing that is different? What is the same? What are you noticing in your body?
At any point, if you find yourself spending longer than a minute or five minutes, go with it. When we are practicing, it goes best when there is no pressure either way, when we can let ourselves be in the moment.
What will you listen to today?
Love,
Angie
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