Tell The Bees
In this episode of the "Nothing Much Happens" podcast, host Kathryn Nicolai explores the "telling the bees" tradition—verbally sharing life updates with beehives. She discusses its role in her grieving process, allowing her to vocalize complex emotions openly and find cathartic release.
Nicolai encourages fully feeling emotions as they arise rather than suppressing them. She shares how rituals like speaking to the bees aid in letting go of pent-up feelings, honoring loved ones, and feeling their continued presence. The podcast highlights the benefits of unguarded emotional expression for achieving inner peace.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the May 20, 2024 episode of the Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
The "Nothing Much Happens" Podcast and Wind Down Box
"Nothing Much Happens" is a podcast providing soothing bedtime stories to help listeners fall asleep, Kathryn Nicolai explains. Its companion product, the Wind Down Box, offers relaxation items like sleep aids, aromatherapy products, and mini-episodes for winding down.
"Telling the Bees"
Nicolai shares her experience of "telling the bees" - an old tradition where she walks to a neighbor's beehive and verbally shares life updates. Despite initial self-consciousness, she finds the ritual cathartic, vocally processing emotions like grief over her grandfather's passing and joy from planting his rose bush.
Nicolai likens grieving to cleaning a cluttered closet - it can get messier before order is restored. By speaking openly to the bees, Nicolai says she experiences an "emotional release," letting go of pent-up feelings. She conveys that joy and sadness can coexist when honoring loved ones.
Letting Emotions Flow Fully
Nicolai discusses allowing herself to fully feel emotions as they arise rather than suppressing them. She no longer fears being "overwhelmed" by letting her guard down, understanding intense emotions will ultimately pass.
"Telling the bees" serves as an outlet for Nicolai to honor her grief while celebrating fond memories and her grandfather's continuing presence through rituals like planting his rose. The act of speaking aloud loosens her grip on difficult emotions, offering a sense of peace.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While the "Nothing Much Happens" Podcast may help many fall asleep, some individuals might find spoken word or storytelling stimulating rather than soothing, potentially disrupting sleep.
- The effectiveness of the Wind Down Box items like sleep aids and aromatherapy is subjective and may not work for everyone due to individual differences in response to sensory products.
- The tradition of "telling the bees" may be cathartic for some, but others may not find speaking to insects or inanimate objects helpful and might prefer human interaction or professional therapy for emotional processing.
- The metaphor of grieving being like cleaning a cluttered closet could be oversimplifying the complexity and personal nature of the grieving process for some individuals.
- While Nicolai finds emotional release in speaking openly to the bees, others may argue that this practice could reinforce avoidance of direct emotional expression with other people or could be less effective than other coping mechanisms.
- The idea that joy and sadness can coexist is a perspective that might not resonate with everyone, as some people may experience emotions more singularly or may not find comfort in this duality.
- The belief that intense emotions will ultimately pass might be challenged by those who experience chronic emotional distress or conditions like depression, where emotions can feel persistent and unmanageable.
- The notion that speaking aloud offers a sense of peace may not hold true for everyone, as some might find writing or other forms of expression more therapeutic.
- The effectiveness of "telling the bees" as an outlet for honoring grief and celebrating memories is a personal experience and may not be universally applicable or beneficial.
Actionables
- Create a personal reflection ritual using a dedicated object or space in your home to share your thoughts and feelings as if you were speaking to a friend. By choosing a specific item, like a plant or a photo, or a spot like a cozy chair or a garden bench, you can establish a routine where you express your emotions out loud, helping you process them in a tangible way, similar to the concept of "telling the bees."
- Start a dual-entry journal where one side is for documenting moments of joy and the other for moments of sorrow. This practice encourages you to acknowledge that joy and sadness can coexist, and it provides a structured way to reflect on your experiences, helping you to embrace the full spectrum of your emotions.
- Develop a 'memory garden' by planting flowers or trees that remind you of loved ones or significant life events. Engaging with nature in this way can serve as a living tribute and a therapeutic outlet for your emotions, offering a peaceful activity that allows you to honor memories and process feelings over time.
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Overview of the "Nothing Much Happens" podcast and Wind Down Box product
"Nothing Much Happens" is a podcast crafted to assist listeners in finding peaceful sleep through soothing bedtime stories, while its companion product, the Wind Down Box, offers a curated array of relaxation items.
The "Nothing Much Happens" podcast is designed to be a gentle bedtime story to help listeners fall [[Sleep]]
Hosted by Kathryn Nicolai, "Nothing Much Happens" provides calming narratives aimed at relaxing the listener's mind and preparing it for sleep. The podcast focuses on shifting the brain into a task-positive mode, serving as a gentle mental landing spot. Additionally, the podcast supports charitable causes, with the current week's donations benefiting Wellness Together, an organization providing mental health interventions for students.
The "Nothing Much Happens" Wind Down Box is a new product offering from the podcast
Kathryn Nicolai extends the podcast's peaceful ethos with the launch of the Wind Down Box. This box includes various sleep aid products, such as Aversia Wellness's Chill Now Reishi Extract, Nutri-Champs Tart Cherry Gummies, a lavender-scented candle from Vella Box, and a mini coloring book by A Brighter Year for mindfulness activities. Adding indulgence ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Overview of the "Nothing Much Happens" podcast and Wind Down Box product
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The effectiveness of bedtime stories and sleep aid products can vary greatly among individuals; what works for one person may not work for another.
- While the podcast supports charitable causes, some listeners might prefer that their entertainment and charitable giving remain separate entities.
- The inclusion of products like Reishi Extract, Tart Cherry Gummies, and melatonin strips may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with allergies or sensitivities to ingredients, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- The cost of the Wind Down Box might not be affordable for all listeners, potentially limiting its accessibility.
- The use of essential oils and scented candles can be problematic for individuals with respiratory issues or those who are sensitive to fragrances.
- The concept of a "Wind Down Box" may be seen as a commercialization of sleep hygiene, which some might argue should be a natural, cost-free process.
- The efficacy of supplements and products like Chill Now Reishi Extract and Al ...
Actionables
- Create a personalized evening ritual by selecting activities that naturally induce relaxation, such as knitting or sketching, to establish a pre-sleep routine that signals your brain it's time to wind down.
- Engaging in a repetitive, soothing activity can help transition your mind into a relaxed state, similar to the task-positive mode mentioned. For example, knitting has a rhythmic nature that can be meditative, while sketching can focus your thoughts away from daily stresses.
- Design a sensory sleep environment by experimenting with different scents, sounds, and textures that you find calming, such as eucalyptus pillow sprays or a white noise machine.
- Personalizing your sleep environment can make it more conducive to relaxation. Try using a eucalyptus pillow spray for its calming properties or a white noise machine to create a consistent auditory backdrop that can help block out disruptive sounds.
- Contribute to your own wellness and that of others by start ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Kathryn's personal story about visiting a neighbor's beehive to "tell the liver" about life updates
Kathryn shares her unique experience of participating in the quaint tradition of ‘telling the bees’ about updates in her life, a ritual that offers her a sense of release and an opportunity to process her emotions.
Kathryn walks to a neighbor's beehive to share news and changes in her life, following an old tradition of communicating with bees
In a tranquil, pastoral setting, Kathryn Nicolai finds a grounded moment to connect with nature and a neighbor's beehive. She recalls the serenity of her walk, noting the gopher trails and rabbit dens along her path and a fallen trunk that serves as her temporary seat. Despite feeling slightly silly at the ritual's onset, she is intentional and thoughtful as she begins to share her life updates with the bees.
She informs the bees about the new family that has moved in across the street, pointing towards their home with its unmistakable greenhouse and shutters. She mentions her family’s upcoming camping trip, a plan that has been in the making since last fall when they started fixing up their camper. Kathryn also shares an update about planting a large rose bush from her grandfather’s garden on the side yard and expresses hope that it will flourish, inviting the bees to visit it if it’s not too much trouble.
Telling the bees provides Kathryn a release and sense of catharsis, allowing her to process emotions and memories
As she speaks to the bees, Nicolai takes deep, slow breaths, experiencing a physical release that mirrors the emotional catharsis she finds in the ritual. She likens grieving to sorting through a cluttered closet; it might get messier before it gets organized. By verbalizing her emotions, Kathryn feels a weight lift from her heart, and she sees "telling the bees" as a fruitful method to begin letting go of "big feelings."
Her storytelling weaves joy and sadness together as she reflects on her grandfather's passing. She acknowledges both the pain from his absence and the comfort in recalling fond memories, conveying that it’s possibl ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Kathryn's personal story about visiting a neighbor's beehive to "tell the liver" about life updates
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
...
Actionables
- Create a personal reflection journal to document daily experiences and emotions, using nature as a metaphor. By writing down your thoughts and likening them to natural elements, such as the growth of a plant or the flow of a river, you can find a similar cathartic release as speaking to the bees. For example, you might write, "Today, I felt as if I were a seedling pushing through the soil, reaching for the sun after a challenging meeting at work."
- Start a voice memo tradition where you record messages to an imaginary or symbolic listener. Choose a comforting object or concept, like a favorite tree or a cherished memento, and speak to it as if it were a confidant. This practice can help you articulate and release pent-up emotions, much like sharing with the bees. You might say, "Dear old oak, let me tell you about the mix of pride and nostalgia I felt watching my child ride a bike for the first time."
- Engage in a creative project that involves crafting or art to externalize and process emotion ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Themes of grief, emotion, and letting go
In grappling with loss, Kathryn dives into the themes of grief and the emotional journey that accompanies it, using the metaphor of cleaning out a closet for her grieving process and finding solace in the tradition of "telling the bees."
Kathryn has been working on allowing herself to fully experience difficult emotions rather than trying to suppress or avoid them
Kathryn discusses the importance of feeling emotions fully as they arise, rather than blocking or avoiding them. She acknowledges that while there’s a risk of being overwhelmed when letting down one's defenses, ultimately, these emotions do not wash her away.
She likens the grieving process to "cleaning out your closet" - it may get worse before it gets better
She shares that the process of grieving is akin to "cleaning out your closet," suggesting that the discomfort and upheaval may intensify before relief and order are restored. She understands that feeling her emotions in their entirety, without rushing to fix any of them, is a part of the healing process.
Kathryn no longer fears being "swept away" by her emotions if she removes the metaphorical "finger in the dam"
Kathryn also opens up about experimenting with letting big feelings come and then letting them go, challenging her past fear of being consumed by her emotions if she allowed herself to fully feel them.
Telling the bees serves as a way for Kathryn to honor her grief while also celebrating fond memories and the continuing presence of her loved one
Kathryn has found a unique way to navigate and honor her emotions through the act of "telling the bees," a tradition that allows her to express her feelings without the need to resolve them.
Kathryn recognizes that both the pain of missing her grandf ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Themes of grief, emotion, and letting go
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While embracing emotions is generally healthy, some individuals may require professional support to navigate intense grief, and the text does not address the potential need for therapeutic intervention.
- The metaphor of "cleaning out your closet" may oversimplify the complexity of the grieving process for some, as grief can often be non-linear and unpredictable.
- The idea of overcoming the fear of being overwhelmed by emotions might not acknowledge the reality that some people may have underlying mental health conditions where emotional regulation is a significant challenge.
- The tradition of "telling the bees" is a specific cultural practice and may not resonate with or be accessible to everyone as a method of processing grief.
- The coex ...
Actionables
- Create a personal emotion journal where you dedicate pages to different emotions, writing down your experiences as they arise. This can help you acknowledge and process your feelings without judgment. For example, if you're feeling sadness, you might write about what triggered it, how it physically feels, and any thoughts associated with it, allowing you to observe the emotion without pushing it away.
- Develop a ritual to honor your feelings and memories, such as lighting a candle or planting a tree in memory of a loved one. This act can serve as a physical representation of your internal process, giving you a space to both grieve and celebrate the person or experience you're remembering. Each time you engage in the ritual, it can be a moment to reflect on the coexistence of pain and happiness.
- Start a 'feelings book club' with friends or family whe ...
Related Shortform Content
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
