When I inherited Max, my grandfather’s African Grey parrot, I expected a quirky housemate with a talent for mimicry. What I didn’t expect was that this bird would hold up a mirror to the way I spoke, not just to others, but to myself. Max didn’t just repeat random words. He picked up on the things I said the most: rushed phone calls, muttered frustrations, and self-deprecating remarks I hadn’t realised I made so often. One afternoon, after I spilled coffee on my laptop, I heard Max clearly mimic my voice: "Ugh, I’m so stupid."It stopped me cold. Because hearing it from someone or something else made it sound so much harsher than it had in my head.

Rewriting the Script

I began to change the way I spoke out loud and in my mind. I started with small shifts: “I’m trying” instead of “I’m failing.” “It’s okay” instead of “What’s wrong with me?” “Take a breath” instead of “Get it together.” It felt strange at first. Forced, even. But slowly, Max started repeating new phrases: “It’s okay,” he’d chirp from across the room. “You’re doing great.” And hearing those words even from a bird felt like a balm. Max became a cheerleader instead of a critic. But it wasn’t just him that changed, it was me. I had started speaking to myself with more kindness, patience, and care. And I was better for it.