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September 18, 2025 6 mins

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What if the things we’ve lost aren’t really missing, but simply traveling? This tender retelling of a story attributed to Franz Kafka offers a profound perspective on change, transformation, and how we might relate differently to what we feel we’ve lost.

Through the tale of a little girl whose doll goes missing in a Berlin park, we discover a beautiful metaphor for life’s transitions. When a thin man suggests the doll isn’t lost but traveling, he begins delivering letters that chronicle her adventures around the world. With each note, we learn alongside the child how “a postcard can be a doorway, how a suitcase can be a spine, how homesickness is just love with somewhere to go.”

The story culminates in recognition and acceptance when the girl receives a new doll—embodying the way experience changes us. A short guided reflection invites you to consider your own “traveling dolls”: aspects of life that may be changing form rather than disappearing. What might they write to you today? What wisdom have they gathered on their journey?

Whether you’re navigating a transition, processing a loss, or simply curious about new ways to meet change, these six minutes offer a quiet pause to breathe, listen, and perhaps write your own postcard from whatever is moving in your life now.

Note: This is a contemporary retelling of a story often attributed to Franz Kafka; the original letters were never found.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey there, a little while ago I came across this
short story, which has beenattributed to Franz Kafka, and
it really charmed me and itoccurred to me that sharing it
might offer some insights intoyour life as well.

(00:20):
And I'm going to share my ownshort retelling of the story.
And as you listen, notice whatlost doll you might be carrying.
Maybe it's something you'veoutgrown, or something that's
changed shape or carries more orless weight in your life.

(00:41):
Maybe it's something you'reready to meet in a new way.
So relax for a second and justtake a deep breath, and I'll
just read this to you.
It's called Kafka and theTraveling Doll.
In a Berlin park, a little girlstood by the path with empty

(01:04):
arms and wet cheeks.
I can't find her, she said asshe sat down, defeated, on the
park bench.
A thin man came along and satdown next to her and set down
his hat, as if to make the dayquieter.

(01:26):
I can't find my doll, she saidto him, wiping away another tear
.
Perhaps.
He said she isn't lost at all,but only traveling Dolls are

(01:47):
famous for that.
The girl looked up unsure.
She posted me a note, he added,lowering his voice the way one
does for secrets.
If you come tomorrow, I'llbring it.
The next afternoon he arrivedwith an envelope, dear friend,

(02:10):
it said in small, carefulletters I left to see the world.
I will write so you can travelwith me.
And so the journey began.
Each day there was a new letterfrom a rattling train window
where fields slid by like pages,from a city square where

(02:33):
pigeons held parliament, from alittle boat that rocked like a
cradle, the doll learned tobargain at markets, to read the
shapes of clouds, to sleep instrange rooms and wake with
brave eyes.
The girl listened, holding thewords like a handrail.
She asked questions andreceived answers how a postcard

(02:59):
can be a doorway, how a suitcasecan be a spine, how
homesickness is just love, withsomewhere to go.
Weeks later, the man arrivedwith a small parcel and one last
letter, dear friend.
It said Travels change a person.

(03:20):
I have grown A seam here, astitch there, and I am ready for
a new chapter.
Please welcome the companionwho arrives with this note.
She will need your stories asmuch as you needed mine.
Inside the parcel that the thinman gave the little girl on the

(03:47):
bench was a doll, new to thegirl, but not a stranger.
The girl studied the face,searching for old maps and new
lines.
She hugged the doll and indoing so made the change real.

(04:11):
The man putting on his hat saidYou've both been very brave.
Will she ever write me again?
The girl asked she won't needto.
He replied Now the adventureswill be yours.
They parted at the bend, in thepath, the park, carrying their

(04:37):
footsteps away, like a quietpromise.
Isn't that a beautiful,beautiful story.
If you'd like place a hand overyour heart or your belly and

(04:58):
ask yourself what am I ready to?
Let travel on without denyingthe love that's there.
Let travel on without denyingthe love that's there.
And what letter would it writeto me today?
Take one last slow inhale and along, steady exhale.

(05:27):
I'm Lisa Hopkins.
Thanks so much for listening.
If this beautiful tale sparkedsomething in you, feel free to
jot a few lines after theepisode and maybe even a
postcard from whatever ischanging in your life.
No-transcript.
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