What is the pebble? All About Penguin-Inspired Love Language

For some people – and for penguins – love is about the little things.

If you show affection by sending memes, TikTok videos, or trinkets, rocks might be your love language — according to the Internet, of course.

Nicknamed “pebbles,” the act describes small acts of love that remind your partner, friends, or family that you’re thinking of them, like giving them small gifts or surprising them with their favorite treat.

Samantha Burns, MA, LMHC, a Boston-based couples counselor and dating coach, describes rocks in relationships as “those little things you do to go out of your way to make your partner smile.”

“It looks different in each person’s unique relationship, but it can be as simple as texting them good morning if you’re in a long-distance relationship, or coming home to your partner’s favorite dessert as a treat. surprise, or send him a funny reel message on social media,” Burns told TODAY.com.

The idea for pebbles comes from an unlikely zoological source: penguins.

“Recently I learned that sending your friends and family little videos, tweets and memes that you find online (is called) rocks, like how penguins bring back rocks. pebbles to their little penguins close to them”, an X user. wrote on May 21.

Gentoo penguins, a species of penguin that lives on sub-Antarctic islands, are known for their unique relationship rituals.

To woo a potential mate, male Gentoo penguins present female penguins with small pebbles, which they then use to build their nests.

Although people don’t typically give each other stones to express affection (unless they’re engagement rings), the concept of rocks among humans follows a similar principle.

At its core, the pebble stems from a desire to share something that you think your loved one would appreciate.

“What makes it special is when it is very specific to the person and unique to their hobbies, interests and beliefs,” she says.

When you send your loved one a meme, article, or video that reminds you of them, it strengthens your unique bond.

“It’s a great way to show them you’re thinking about them and create your own jokes,” says Burns.

On TikTok, creators who identify as neurodivergent have particularly embraced the idea of ​​the rock.

“Pebble is an alternative form of communication typically practiced by people who struggle with traditional displays of affection like verbal words or body language,” TikTok user @anastasia_the_fae told TODAY.com via e -mail.

She describes pebbles as “small acts that impact someone’s mood,” like bringing homemade cookies to a date, sewing pockets on a friend’s dress, or sending funny videos to his loved ones.

Although the pebble has recently gained attention on social media, the concept is not new, she points out.

“It’s a deeply innate way of communicating in a lot of neurodivergent people – it’s just that we now have a term for it,” she says.

Regardless of your communication style, Burns says it’s always a good idea to show your loved ones that they’re on your mind.

“It’s about letting your partner know you care without having to say ‘I love you,'” she says.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com