Like You is listener supported. Learn how you can support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon.

Please send us a voice memo, drawing, or letter at hello@likeyoupodcast.com. We play a voice memo from a listener at the beginning of most episodes. If your child wants to be included, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us. Your child can introduce themself and then say a favorite affirmation, sing a line from a Like You song, say what they like about the show, or share whatever they feel! Keep it short (10-20 seconds), send it to our email, and then wait patiently. It is our goal to share every recording eventually!

Like You is written and produced by Noah Glenn. The show’s artwork was illustrated by Mia Saine. Episode art is created by Lindsey Glenn.

This episode features original music by Noah Glenn, as well as additional music by IMAKEMADBEATS.

Birthday wishes contributed by Eso Tolson.

Find Like You online at likeyoupodcast.com.

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Noah: Hello! I’m Noah and this is Like You, a mindfulness podcast for kids. I’m glad you’re here! Guess what. It’s our birthday! We launched our podcast one year ago in the last week of January 2020. And what a year it’s been! We never would have guessed what was in store for the world during our first year of podcasting. But we are truly deeply grateful for all of you, our friends, who have listened, subscribed, or told a friend about the show. Thank you! I hope that listening to Like You offered you little moments of peace and joy in the midst of everything else happening around you.

So what to do for our first birthday episode? I decided I wanted to create an episode to celebrate YOUR birthday. So I hope you’ll listen to this episode again on your birthday, whenever that is. I want you to raise your hand if it actually IS your birthday today. Wow! How cool is that? Happy Birthday! Now for those of you who don’t actually have a birthday today, that’s alright, because one thing we do really well on Like You is make believe. So for the next ten minutes or so, if you’re listening to this podcast, then it’s your make believe birthday. Happy birthday everybody!

Now before we get too far into the episode, let me add my usual reminder for the grownups. This podcast is listener supported, so please consider joining us on Patreon to make more episodes possible. You can find our group at Patreon.com/likeyoupodcast. We’ve also got an online shop at likeyoupodcast.com, or you can support us the free way by telling your friends or writing a review on Apple Podcasts.

Without further ado, let’s celebrate your birthday. Find a place to listen where you feel comfortable and safe. You’re welcome to be a part of the podcast, so feel free to speak up when I ask questions. Of course, if you’d rather think your answers quietly in your head, that’s fine too. It’s up to you!

Let’s kick off your birthday celebration with a brand new birthday song. You can get up and dance if you feel like it, or just sit quietly and listen.

Before you were born

We waited for you

We all knew the world needed

Someone like you

Now it’s your birthday

And everyone’s so glad you’re here

It’s let us tell you what you’re worth day

Just think of how you grew this year

So happy happy birthday

I hope you don’t mind if we cheer

For today, which is the first day

Of another special year

We’re all so glad you’re here

We’re all so glad you’re you

We all can’t wait to see

All the things that you will do

We’re glad that you were born

We love to see you grow

We’re proud of who you are

Impressed by what you know

And all around the world

There’s no one quite like you

So you say “I like me”

And we’ll say “I like you”

Before you were born

We waited for you

We all knew the world needed

Someone like you

Now, it’s time to do a little breathing. For today’s breathing exercise, I’ve made you an imaginary birthday cake. I want you to imagine the cake of your dreams. Close your eyes and picture it. How big is it? What flavor is it? What color is the icing? How many candles are on top?

Right now we’re going to blow out some candles. Imagine the candles on your cake are already lit, with happy little candle flames dancing on top. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and imagine you can smell the sweet icing on the cake. Now blow out all your candles. Let’s do that again. Imagine your candles have magically been relit. Take another deep breath in through your nose, smelling the cake as you do. And once again, blow out all the candles. One last time. Your candles are magically relit. And you know what we forgot the first two times? We forgot to make a wish. Take a few slow breaths in and out while you think about what wish you’d like to make. Once you’ve thought of a wish, take another long breath in through your nose and for the last time, blow out all your birthday candles. Now that you’ve made your own wishes, here’s our friend Eso to share a few wishes that we have for you.

Eso: I wish for you to be happy. I wish for you to be healthy. I wish for you to feel loved. I wish for you to have all that you need.

Noah: Now imagine you have a slice of birthday cake on your plate. Close your eyes and imagine you’re taking a bite of the cake. Can you actually taste the cake using only your imagination?

Now on the count of three, we’ll say I like me. 1, 2, 3. I like me.

I like you too! I am so glad you were born. The world is a better place because you are in it, and you bring a special spark to everything you do, because there’s no one else quite like you.

Since it’s your birthday, let’s take a moment to get to know what makes you you. Start by telling us your name. Say it loud and proud! We’re so glad you’re here! Happy birthday!

Now can you tell us your favorite color?

And what is something you are really good at, maybe even better than anyone else you know?

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you most like to go?

Last question. What is something someone has done or said that made you feel special and loved?

All your answers to those questions are part of what make you uniquely you. No one else thinks all the same thoughts as you.

Now it’s present time. I want to revisit one of my favorite mindful exercises, called giving a present to yourself. Let’s go back to that last question I asked. What is something someone has done or said that made you feel special and loved? Was it laughing with a friend? Reading a book with your dad? Getting a really nice compliment from your brother or sister? Hearing a teacher say you did a great job on an assignment? It may be something that happened today or yesterday or last week, or a year ago. Just think for a moment about a time you felt very loved and very special.

Once you’ve thought of something, try your best to remember exactly what it felt like. Close your eyes and think about every detail you can remember.

Take a deep breath. Smile. It feels really nice to think about happy moments. Now I want you to imagine that you can take that moment, put it inside a box, wrap it up with wrapping paper, and put a big bow on top. You’ve wrapped up that moment as a present for yourself. And any time you want to remember that wonderful feeling, you can unwrap your present, and think about that special moment again. Any time, any place, you can give yourself the gift of thinking about a happy memory.

Now it’s time for affirmations. But I want to do them a little differently this time. Instead of repeating them with me, I just want you to listen. I will say a few affirmations about you, to you. All you have to do is listen and receive them.

You make this world a better place just by being you.

In all of history, there has never been anyone else quite like you.

Your smile shines like a light in the darkness.

I’m proud of who you are, and how you’re growing.

Your kindness makes the people around you smile.

You fill the world with joy, hope, and love.

I like you just the way you are.

Happy birthday.

Now let’s smile and take a few deep breaths as we wind down our time together.

I can’t wait to spend some time together again soon. Until then, I like you, I’m proud of you, and I’m glad we are friends. Have a happy and peaceful day.

Like You is written and produced by me, Noah Glenn. I also composed and performed the Like You theme music and the original birthday song “Someone Like You.” You can get a free download of that song and all our other original songs when you join our Patreon group at patreon.com/likeyoupodcast. Our Patreon supporters are what makes this show possible, so grownups please consider supporting us! Other ways to support the show are by telling your friends, writing a review on Apple Podcasts, or checking out our online shop at likeyoupodcast.com. Our website also features show notes for every episode. Speaking of show notes, our podcast cover art was illustrated by Mia Saine, and our episode art is created by Lindsey Glenn. Additional music came from IMAKEMADBEATS, and Eso Tolson contributed some birthday wishes. We love hearing from listeners. You can send us voice memos, drawings and pictures by having a grownup send an email to hello@likeyoupodcast.com. Be sure to follow us on instagram, Facebook, and twitter @likeyoupod. Thanks for listening!