Everybody’s Got A Story

Hello and happy Monday!

I hope you’ve been staying well. 🙂

I know I said I was taking April off, but inspiration struck–and I felt an inner nudge to share something that I’ve been sitting with.

You know how sometimes a song gets stuck in your head, and no matter what you do, that same song keeps replaying? Well, that happened to me recently.

The song that I kept hearing is one I haven’t heard since my childhood: “Everybody’s Got a Story” by Amanda Marshall.

Since it wouldn’t leave my mind, I decided to pause and truly listen to the lyrics.

This is what I kept hearing:

“See my eyes, don’t see what I see.

Touch my tongue, don’t know what tastes good to me.

It’s the human condition that keeps us apart.

Everybody’s got a story that could break your heart.”

As a child, I didn’t have the life experience to fully grasp the weight of these words. But now, they feel real, raw, and full of emotion.

As I reflected on the lyrics, my mind drifted to an image I once saw on LinkedIn. I don’t have the image saved, but it can be easily described.

Imagine a massive circle, and within this huge circle is a tiny dot. The dot is barely visible.

The caption explained that the tiny dot represents what we believe we know about others–the parts we can see. The large circle surrounding the tiny dot represents everything we don’t see: the things that lie beneath the surface, such as life experiences, hopes, fears, dreams, stories, joys, heartbreaks, triumphs, struggles, and more.

As I reflected on the lyrics and that image, a few reflections began to surface.

How many times have we shared experiences with others, only to walk away with completely different takeaways? We might be in the same room, listening to the same talk, watching the same movie, reading the same book, observing the same events–yet the way we experience and interpret these experiences can be entirely different.

Each of us see the world through our unique lens, which is shaped by our lived experiences. This is what the massive circle in the image represents, and it connects to the words, “See my eyes, don’t see what I see.”

It’s a beautiful invitation to be curious, to listen, learn from each other, grow, and ask questions. It’s an opportunity to open ourselves up to ideas and perspectives that may align with or challenge our own.

It’s okay if we don’t always agree with or understand someone else’s thoughts and perspectives. It’s not about proving who is right or which experience is most valid. Instead, it’s about exploring another worldview–taking a moment to see life through the eyes of another, and maybe if it feels appropriate, appreciate the beauty of this moment of connection.

My second reflection came from the lyric “Touch my tongue, don’t know what tastes good to me.” To me, I feel that this speaks to the things in life that bring us joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose–our desires, passions, dreams, and the things that truly light us up. The things that make us feel alive, at peace, and connected to our true essence.

Much like the image of the dot, where we only see a small piece of the whole, the things that light us up might not make sense to others. And that’s okay! What matters most is that you understand it and it resonates with you.

I believe that this beautifully aligns with somatic practices. In somatic practices, you're encouraged to explore what feels good and authentic to you. There is no right or wrong way to move or feel–your experience is uniquely your own, and every experience is valid. Somatic practices invite you to listen to your body with compassion and curiosity, honoring its messages. This inner listening paves the way for a deeper connection to your true essence, which includes discovering and reconnecting with the things that fill your heart with joy and fulfillment.

My final reflection connects with the remaining lyrics: “It’s the human condition that keeps us apart. Everybody’s got a story that could break your heart.”

We truly don’t know someone’s story. We may see and hear bits and pieces of their lives, but at the end of the day, we don’t know what’s beneath the surface.

This connects back to the image of the tiny dot housed within the massive circle. The tiny dot is connected to what we believe we can see, and the large circle is everything that is unseen–the quiet victories, the inner battles, and all that exists in between.

The cashier that seems in a bad mood might be stressed out about not being able to pay rent.

The person speeding, weaving in and out of traffic might be rushing due to an emergency.

The friend who takes weeks to respond back to a text message might not have the energy or emotional capacity to respond back in a timely manner.

The neighbours whose lawn is overgrown might be dealing with a health issue.

The person who frequently shows up late to family functions might be juggling multiple commitments and struggling to maintain balance in their life.

The teammate who doesn’t contribute much in group projects might be dealing with imposter syndrome, feeling that their contributions are never good enough.

The truth is, we truly don’t know what others are carrying. We only see that tiny dot, not the whole picture.

This awareness, for me, is a call to action: to treat others with kindness, patience, and understanding.

To the cashier who seems in a bad mood, kindness might look like offering a warm smile, eye contact, and saying “thank you.”

For the driver weaving in and out of traffic, maybe it’s offering a prayer–for their safety, and for the safety of everyone else on the road.

For the neighbour with the overgrown lawn, kindness might look like offering to mow their lawn for them.

When the friend responds after a long period of silence, you can greet them with genuine kindness in your heart by replying: “It’s so good to hear from you!”

For the family member who often arrives late to gatherings, kindness might look like greeting them with a warm embrace and offering to grab them a plate of food so they can settle in and relax.

And for the teammate who isn’t contributing, you might choose to start your next group meeting with encouraging words–creating a space where everyone feels heard, seen, valued, and safe to show up as they are.

These seemingly small acts of kindness can make a HUGE difference in the lives of others.

And, it can change your life for the better too!

Kindness has a way of spreading. It ripples out into the world. I love the image of a boomerang to describe it. When we show kindness to another, those positive vibes have a way of circling back. This isn't because we expect it or are looking for something in return, but because that's just the nature of kindness. It moves through people, it grows, it multiplies, it inspires others, and somehow, it finds its way back to the original source in sometimes unexpected and beautiful ways.

Once again, this connects with our somatic practices. Honoring our sensations during our practices is an act of self-love and compassion. When we approach our sensations with non-judgemental curiosity, we allow the compassion that is already within us to flow more freely.

And the wonderful thing is, the kindness we show ourselves on the mat often starts to naturally flow into other areas of our lives.

This is why I believe that self-care isn’t selfish–it’s a gift, both to ourselves and everyone we interact with. When we tend to our inner worlds with care, we naturally increase our ability to show up in the world with greater presence, compassion, and understanding for others.

If it feels good, I encourage you to explore kindness today. This might look like opening the door for someone, picking up litter in your neighbourhood, offering a genuine compliment, checking in on a friend, leaving a positive review for a business you love, actively listening to someone, or paying for someone's coffee. The possibilities are truly endless!

I would also like to share that what I write in these letters isn’t a universal truth. Just like the song lyrics and the dot image, the thoughts, ideas, and reflections I offer are shaped from my own unique lens and experiences. They represent a collection of lessons I’ve learned, things I’ve unlearned, and insights I’ve integrated along my journey.

There will be times when these letters resonate and speak to you, other times when they don’t, and times when only part of what I write feels true to you–all thoughts, feelings, and experiences are valid and are welcome here.

The intention behind these letters is to offer encouragement, inspiration, support, kindness, and love.

I’m so grateful that you took the time to read this! Thank you!

Although I don’t have a new somatic yoga practice for you today, I did come across a self-love affirmation video I created a year or so ago. You can turn this into a somatic practice by noticing how each affirmation feels in your body as you repeat the words–either in your head or out loud.

It's also so important to show kindness to ourselves! You are worthy of love, care, and compassion. I hope that these affirmations serve you well.

I invite you to click on the image or the button below to send some love to your mind, body, and heart.

Alright dear friend, I hope you have an amazing day and week!

Talk to you soon!

With love,

~ Rachel