It’s our birthday, and we’re celebrating with a bonus encore birthday episode! Like You launched its first episode on January 28, 2020, so today we turn 2 years old! We decided to mark the occasion by sharing an episode that celebrates YOUR birthday! Today we’ll pretend it’s everyone’s birthday, then you can return to this episode and listen again on your real birthday.
Show Notes
Like You is listener supported. Learn how you can support the show by becoming a patron on Patreon. You can also support the show by shopping in our online store or purchasing songs from the show on our Bandcamp page.
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 a production of Perpetual Motion. The show 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.
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Transcript
Noah: Today is our birthday! Like You premiered its first episode (actually its first 3 episodes) on January 28, 2020. To celebrate, we’re dropping this bonus birthday episode into the podcast feed. We really made this episode to help celebrate YOUR birthday, so set a reminder to listen again on your actual birthday. We’re grateful for all our listeners like you who have joined us over the years. If you want to send us some birthday love, the best thing we could ask for is for grownups to sign up to support the podcast on Patreon. It takes a lot to keep this podcast going, and the small monthly donations from our Patreon supporters are what makes that happen. Join us at Patreon.com/likeyoupodcast.
[intro music]
Hello! I’m Noah and this is Like You, a mindfulness podcast for kids. I’m glad you’re here! This is our birthday episode and we want to say the 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 has offered you little moments of peace and joy in the past year.
So what to do for our 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. Right now, I want you to raise your hand if it IS your birthday today. Wow! How cool is that? Happy Birthday! Now for those of you who are listening to this episode on a day that’s NOT your birthday, 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!
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. After all, it is your birthday!
Let’s kick off your birthday celebration with a 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 a production of Perpetual Motion. It is made possible by our supporters on Patreon. Become a supporter by visiting Patreon.com/likeyoupodcast. Like You is written and hosted by me, Noah Glenn. I also composed and performed the Like You theme music and other music that appeared in the episode, including 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. Other ways to support the show are by telling your friends, writing a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, 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!
