 Back in 2004, the biggest challenge on my mind was getting every ounce of horsepower out of my car. Vin Diesel said "I live my life a quarter mile at a time. Nothing else matters. For those ten seconds or less, I'm free" while playing Dominic Toretto in the Fast and the Furious. My High School friends and I felt that every Friday night. The photo above we are changing spark plugs on an ’03 SVT Cobra Terminator. Seeing the photo today 20+ years later reminds me of a time when the only things that mattered were friends, fast cars, and freedom. We didn’t know it then, but those moments working together, problem solving, and forming connection were shaping something much deeper than just working on cars. Looking back, it’s funny how simple life seemed then. Often times you don't realize you're in the good old days until they're gone. If I could go back to this moment and be in High School again with the biggest worries being horsepower and math class, I absolutely would. The truth is, we often chase future milestones without realizing the most peaceful, grounding moments are usually the ones happening right now when we are in the present, unguarded, and simply connected. I am reminded of a quote: If you are depressed you are living in the past. Today as adults, our challenges are more complex. We deal with career demands, bills, uncertainty, mental overload, and sometimes grieving the loss of someone very close to us. The list goes on. But the same simple lesson applies: we must slow down and notice what’s right in front of us Today. The people we talk to, the moments of real connection, and the memories we are making. These ARE the good old days right in front of us Today. That’s exactly why we built the application Loqui Listening. A space where people can feel heard, without judgment, and find someone to talk to when they need it most. It’s not about fixing anyone’s “problems,” it’s about sitting with them while they figure out the next turn. Whether you’re a talker or a listener in the app, Loqui is a reminder that life feels lighter when someone truly listens. Because sometimes, the most powerful kind of horsepower isn’t under a hood, it’s in the human heart. Thank you Jason and many other good friends for providing that the last 20+ years. 
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 Today is the one night of the year when we’re encouraged to wear a mask. To pretend to be someone else, or something else entirely. But for many of us, the hardest part of the day isn’t putting one on, it’s taking off the everyday mask we wear: the one that says, “I’m fine,” or “I’ve got everything handled.” Sometimes, the weight of keeping up appearances is heavier than any costume. We move through our days smiling, nodding, performing. We are hoping no one notices the exhaustion behind our eyes or the quiet ache underneath the (forced) laughter. If you’re reading this and wishing you could just be real with someone for a few minutes, you’re not alone. The need to drop the mask and simply be heard in a safe, judgment-free space is deeply human. Tonight, while some people are out collecting candy or gathering at parties, many others are staying inside. Just scrolling, thinking, or trying to make it through another night. And sometimes, that quiet can be the scariest part of all. Maybe what’s haunting you isn’t a ghost, but a looping thought — a worry, a regret, a fear that keeps circling back no matter how much you try to ignore it. So ask yourself: What’s the biggest thing haunting your mind right now? Is it stress, uncertainty, loneliness or just a quiet moment that feels too long? You don’t have to face it alone. At Loqui Listening, we’re creating small, human spaces for people to talk and be heard. No judgment, no pressure, no need to perform. Just one person listening when you need it most. So this Halloween, whether you’re behind a mask or taking yours off for the first time in a while remember: you don’t have to haunt your own thoughts. 
The application wasn’t functional, we weren’t able to connect calls or message between the 350+ users like we are today. At that time we were just on the Sign Up and Sign In screen, it wasn’t even accepting the phone # or email to sign in yet. But I had a blue and yellow app on my iPhone that said Loqui Listening and I was so proud. That was so meaningful and where the app is now after launching in January is so meaningful to me. Loqui (Low·key) means to Talk in Latin. The application Loqui came from understanding there was a deep need for people connecting with other people when they need someone to talk to. We live in such a connected world, yet millions of people feel profoundly lonely; nearly 1 in 2 people say they've felt depressed and alone. From 2019 - 2023 I was a top Listener for an application where I first learned of Listening as a Service. I put myself "online" and strangers called in and started talking about their deepest and darkest secrets because the anonymity. Support for that application went away and I desperately (or feverishly) started working on designing, developing, creating, testing and launching Loqui Listening.  Our application Loqui launched January 2025 after working with a talented development team in Dubai. They took my desire, my drawing and my dream to make an app connecting people with other people so they are not alone and now today our 300+ users have that option every single day. Our empathetic Active Listeners put themselves "online" after sharing a little information about themselves in their bio.  Marco: “Nashville, TN based listener. Whenever someone needs to talk, they can connect specifically with any of our online Listeners or they can call ALL our online Listeners and the 1st available Listener to accept the call is connected with that user instantly. In less than 10 seconds, our users can have a real live human being on the other end to talk to. And they are no longer alone.  All of the users life experiences are unique and the reasons they call into Loqui vary. Some just need to vent, others may want to talk through a relationship they are in or recently got out of. Others want to talk about stress from family dynamics or their job. Sometimes, users call in simply to play a musical instrument or sing, seeking not just a listener, but a companion so they aren't experiencing their music alone. Whatever the user needs in that moment, our empathetic Listeners offer a safe presence and hold space for others, whether they need to talk, vent, or simply share a moment.  Interestingly two strangers are connected inside of our application Loqui (a Talker and a Listener) but typically very quickly the two strangers become acquaintances in the app and a good amount of our Talkers and Listeners become really good friends inside the application over time. Often times our Talkers want to update our Listeners after a phone call about something important that has happened in their life since they talked last. “Sheryl, I have to update you on the job situation!” or “Sheryl you will NOT believe what happened on the date.” Research shows that just 8 minutes of supportive conversation with a trusted person is often enough to lift our spirits and get us back on track when we’re feeling down. Our users in Loqui are getting those 8 minutes and then some every single day thanks to our 100+ empathetic and compassionate Listeners. Recently we passed 30,000 minutes listening inside Loqui. Thank you to the users that trust what we are offering and building is a safe space to come talk about your real private and personal experiences. Thank you to our incredible Listeners who put themselves “online” and take the phone calls that they take and respond to the text messages that they do in the application. “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” If anyone is interested in being a Listener inside Loqui, it is very rewarding. If anyone could benefit from an 8 minute phone call and wants to feel heard; checkout Loqui. All new users have 8 minutes FREE and they can use those 8 minutes/ messages whenever they need.  |
Creating Loqui:While creating Loqui Listening an app dedicated to fighting the loneliness epidemic by connecting people with other people, I gained a unique perspective. ArchivesCategories |
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