I've added it as a tool for cultivating gratitude, connection, and groundedness within my practice. It started with a gratitude journal eight months ago and now we're here. I realize how strange it must be for a big chunk of people, myself included, to use the phone as it was originally intended, to connect to someone on the other end of the line... and that's exactly the opportunity that Landed brings - connection in a unique way that has facilitated some of the most meaningful conversations I've had in recent years, truly. In the short time of being on Landed, it's already proven to me how important the power of listening is and how sweet it is to be reminded of our impermanence (you may be lucky enough to match up with a Zen master, or maybe a silly comedian - both very insightful individuals) by receiving a new match each week. Sharing what you're grateful for with another person and listening to their experiences deepens your appreciation for the good things in life. All while gaining a new perspective. Delete Instagram, log off of Twitter and tap here instead - it'll help gain a new perspective and a greater sense of empathy. A new sense of kindness will start to radiate.

This app brings me a lot of joy and peace. I’ve been using it for about a year through its beta testing and it has been such a bright spot week to week to hear what’s dear and challenging in a stranger’s life and reflect on my own gratitude. I love its simplicity, that it’s flexible to meet my own time and needs, as well as my match’s (sometimes a match and I might be exchanging a lot, volleying back and forth, other times with another match might be just the initial recording, it’s all beautiful and welcome). On a week when I know I’ll be unable to reply I just don’t record a gratitude that week and don’t get matched, no problem. I love that it’s both not expected (and lightly discouraged) to keep a match going, and instead is a happy connection that arrives in my life, is sweet and present for 5 days, and then evaporates into a clean slate once again. I’ve told everyone I know about this app. I absolutely cherish it.

I have received so much from my landed connections. I love the thoughtful moments that come from the simple audio back and forth. Sometimes my connections are lively multiple moments each day. Others are a slow daily moment that I reflect upon throughout the day. And then others a brief Hello Out There! Each one is a joyous reminder of the importance of being open and welcoming to the experience of connecting to fellow humans. I also love the non pressure of deciding whether to make a connection at all. Some weeks just aren’t good for that, and I don’t have to feel I’m letting someone down. I’ve been using landed for six months and it really has added another layer of comfort to my life.

I use no social media app but Landed. This experience is genuine and ephemeral. I am matched with someone over gratitude. Once a week, I have a few minutes to express what I’m grateful for and if I choose, something that was challenging for me that week. I record my voice, which is a closer contact over text or typing. I’m matched with a similar person and have an opportunity to record our voices in speaking to one another for the week, if we choose. After one week, my match disappears. It’s a lovely way to be myself, express myself and my authenticity. No competition No comparison no likes no dislikes