The Flamingo Diet

The Hotpot | January 2026 | By Lisanne

26.12

Flamingos. I love the way they look.

Their feathers are so vivid and beautiful, and their sound is something special as well.

The call of the greater flamingo is a haunting and melodious one that echoes through their wetlands.

They don’t chirp, but they make a series of honking and trumpet-like sounds, often performed in unison by flocks of flamingos. These birds gather in large flocks, and the rhythmic nature of their calls creates an unforgettable auditory experience.

The Listening Project captured the flamingo’s call beautifully, and shared the sound on their platform—you can listen to it here.

Their diet is also special. Flamingo’s literally eat their way into being pink. Their feathers turn pink from the pigments in the tiny crustaceans and algae they eat. Their wings change because their diet literally colors them.

“You are what you eat” is basically the flamingo way of saying, “I didn’t wake up like this—I just ate really well today.”

And honestly, we’re not far off.

Keep grazing on hot takes, doomscrolling threads, and half-awake small talk, and you start fading into this dull, existential oatmeal color.

But swap in better fuel — ideas with spine, people with courage, conversations that actually go somewhere — and suddenly you’re turning into this beautiful, radiant color.
Not through grit or glow-up culture.
Just basic biology of the mind.

If you’re unhappy with the shade your life is turning, don’t obsess over it.
Audit the buffet.

Thanks for reading! The journal prompt of today:

What little snack would you like to add to your buffet—or remove?

Let me know in the comments.

Curious to see more reflections like this? Click through to see the rest of the series on self-care. I’d love to hear what resonates with you.