Do you have 8 minutes?

There are many emotions that come with surrogacy. Excitement, hope, anticipation, joy, fear, frustration, uncertainty, and sometimes all of those things before you've even started your journey! At Hive, we know that surrogacy is about so much more than navigating the logistics of building a family. It's a human experience. Real people, with big feelings, going through something extraordinary.

And while we're here to help you manage your journey, we also want you to know we're here for the hard moments, too.

The moments when you need reassurance. When something doesn't make sense. When you're having a hard day but can't quite explain why. When you have a question that feels silly, or when you just need someone who understands this world to listen. That's why we're introducing something at Hive that we hope becomes a meaningful part of how we support one another. The "Do You Have 8 Minutes?" request. The idea, popularized by Simon Sinek and Maria Shriver, is beautifully simple. When you're struggling, feeling overwhelmed, or just need a little human connection, you send someone a message: "Do you have 8 minutes?"No long explanation. No need to justify why you're reaching out. No pressure to schedule a call three days from now. Just eight minutes. Eight minutes of someone's undivided attention. Eight minutes to talk, vent, cry, laugh, ask questions, or simply feel heard. The idea is that sometimes we don't need someone to solve our problems. We just need someone to sit with us in them for a few minutes. Research shows that 8 minutes of undivided attention from a trusted person is the minimum threshold required for a human being to feel heard, cared for, and less isolated during a stressful event. It is enough time to feel a meaningful shift in your emotional state without needing to find a solution.

We live in a world where everyone is busy. Calendars are full, phones are buzzing, and even catching up with someone we care about can feel like something we need to schedule two weeks in advance.

And when we're struggling, reaching out can feel like one more thing we don't have the energy to do.

Sometimes we belittle our needs and our self-talk can sometimes lead us to believe that our feelings aren’t valid or that we’re “making a big deal” out of nothing.

The beauty of eight minutes is that it takes away so much of that pressure. You're not asking someone to clear their afternoon. You're not committing to a lengthy conversation. You're simply asking for a few minutes of connection. And because there's a clear beginning and end, it makes it easier for someone to say yes, too. The original concept even suggests setting a timer and ending the conversation at eight minutes unless both people want to continue.It's not about rushing through your feelings. It's about making connection feel accessible. Eight minutes will likely not fix what's happening, but it can change how you feel while it's happening. The emotions that come with surrogacy as an intended parent or surrogate aren't always easy to explain to people who haven't been through it. For intended parents, there can be an enormous amount of vulnerability in trusting someone else to carry your baby. There may be years of fertility struggles behind you, complicated feelings about control, trust, anxiety between appointments, or even the fear of allowing yourself to feel excited. For surrogates, there can be equally complicated emotions. You're doing something incredibly meaningful, but that doesn't mean every part of the experience is easy or linear. There are physical changes, emotional ups and downs, relationships to navigate, expectations to manage, and moments when you might just need someone to remind you that what you're feeling is completely valid. And sometimes, for both intended parents and surrogates, there are things you don't necessarily want to bring up with one another. Not because anything is wrong, but because you care about each other. You don't want to create unnecessary worry, hurt someone's feelings, or make a small concern feel bigger than it needs to be.

That's where Hive comes in.We want to be that safe and neutral place in the middle. The people you can call when you're overthinking something. When you're confused about the next step. When you're frustrated with a delay. When you need to talk something through before deciding whether it even needs to be a conversation.Or when you're simply having a day.You don't need a crisis to deserve support.

We want to make this phrase part of our Hive language.

Whether you're an intended parent or a surrogate, we encourage you to use it with your Hive support team whenever you feel like you need a little extra connection. Send us a message that says: "Do you have 8 minutes?" And we'll know what you're asking for. It means you need a moment. A real conversation. A listening ear. Maybe some reassurance, maybe some guidance, or maybe just someone who gets it.

We'll do our best to connect with you as soon as we're available, and if we can't talk right away, we'll help find a time. You don't have to write a long message explaining what's wrong first. You don't have to decide whether your feelings are important enough to warrant a phone call. And you certainly don't have to apologize for needing support. Some conversations might last eight minutes. Some might end sooner. And sometimes, if we both have the time, we might keep talking. The point isn't the stopwatch.

The point is knowing you have someone to reach out to. Of course, this doesn't replace the longer conversations, important check-ins, or more involved support that are sometimes needed throughout a surrogacy journey. It's simply another way to make sure you feel connected and supported along the way.

Connection isn't only about helping each other through difficult moments. It's also about celebrating the good ones, building trust, and reminding each other that we're in this together.

We chose the name Hive because we believe in the power of community, connection, and people showing up for one another.

A surrogacy journey involves a whole network of people working toward something extraordinary. And while every person's role is different, nobody should feel like they're navigating it alone.

We know we can't eliminate every worry, answer every question immediately, or make every part of the process easy. But we can create a space where asking for support feels simple. The next time you're feeling overwhelmed, confused, excited, anxious, or just in need of a little connection, don't overthink it. Send us those five simple words."Do you have 8 minutes?"

Because at Hive, supporting your journey isn't just about getting you to the finish line.

It's about being there for you along the way.

Eight minutes at a time.