Today is my late brother’s birthday. It’s a day that always hits hard, a day when the sadness squeezes my heart tighter than usual. When the loneliness and pain feel overwhelming, I tell myself — communicate, get out of this abyss, because all you need is eight minutes. Eight minutes of conversation and compassion. And where did I get exactly those eight minutes, you might ask?
I heard it in an episode featuring Simon Sinek and Charlene Tosi, where they mention a study showing that eight minutes of mindful conversation with a friend can help someone feel heard and less lonely.
It might sound like such a small thing, but those eight minutes can mean the world to someone. It’s enough time for a deep breath, a gentle smile, or a quiet moment of understanding. A real, honest conversation where you don’t have to hide your tears, your fears, or your tears.
Simon Sinek talks about how those 8 minutes can actually change our brain — reminding us that someone’s out there who gets us, who doesn’t judge, who just shows up. From my own experience, when the sadness tightens its grip and my thoughts swirl like a dark storm, that’s exactly what I need — to open up, to share my pain with someone who just listens and holds space, without judgment or rush.
Asking for help isn’t easy. Admitting that you’re struggling isn’t easy. But those small moments — those 8 minutes of kindness, attention, and care — can be the light that breaks through the darkness.
So today, on this heavy day in my heart, I want to remind both you and myself: it’s not weak or shameful to ask for those 8 minutes. Eight minutes of genuine connection can be a safe harbor when everything else feels distant and overwhelming.
Maybe, in those 8 minutes, we find the courage to keep going — one step, one breath at a time. Perhaps it’s not much, but it’s a good start.
My dearest Deki, happy birthday. I love you so so so much, and I miss you every single day. Forever. <333
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8minuta razgovora je sve što nam je potrebno
03.07.2025.
Danas je rođendan mog pokojnog brata. Dan koji uvek donosi bol koji se teško nosi, dan kada tuga stegne srce jače nego obično. Tada kažem sebi— komuniciraj, izadji iz ovog ponora jer sve što ti treba jeste 8 minuta. Osam minuta razgovora i saosećanja. A odakle mi baš tih 8 minuta pitate se?
Čula sam to u jednoj epizodi u kojoj učestvuju Simon Sinek i Charlene Tosi, pominje se istraživanje da osam minuta pažljivog razgovora sa prijateljem može pomoći osobi da se oseća slušano i manje usamljeno.
Možda zvuči malo, ali tih osam minuta može biti sve što nam treba da osetimo da nismo sami. Toliko traje jedan dubok uzdah, jedan topli osmeh ili tiha podrška. Toliko traje jedan iskren razgovor u kome ne moramo da skrivamo svoje suze, strahove ili tugu.
Simon Sinek kaže da tih 8 minuta može promeniti naš mozak, poslati mu signal da postoji neko ko nas razume, ko nas ne osuđuje i ko je tu za nas. I mogu ti reći iz svog iskustva — kad me pritisne tuga, kad mi se misli umnože i obaviju kao crna magla, potreban mi je razgovor. Da otvorim dušu, da podelim svoj bol i suze sa nekim ko će samo slušati i biti tu, bez osude.
Znam da nije lako tražiti pomoć. Nije lako priznati sebi ni drugima da ti je teško. Ali upravo te male stvari — tih osam minuta pažnje, nežnosti i razumevanja — mogu biti svetlo koje probija kroz najmračnije trenutke.
Zato, danas, na ovaj težak dan u mom srcu, želim da podsetim i sebe i tebe: nije sramota ni slabost tražiti tih 8 minuta. Osam minuta nege i pažnje može biti utočište kada nam sve drugo izgleda daleko i nedostižno.
I možda, upravo u tim osam minutama, pronađemo snagu da nastavimo dalje — korak po korak, dah po dah. Nije mnogo, ali jeste dobar početak.
A tebi Deki, srećan rodjendan, mnogo te volim i mnogo mi falis. Zauvek. <3333
Tanja's diary 🧚🏻‍♂️ 