Carlos the capybara was the calmest creature in the whole wide wetland. He loved to sit by the river, watching the water flow and feeling the warm sun on his fur. Sometimes, other animals would rush by, all busy and worried. But Carlos just smiled and took a deep breath.
One evening, Rosie the rabbit hopped up to Carlos, her nose twitching. “Oh dear, oh dear!” she cried. “I have SO much to do! I need to gather carrots, build a cozy nest, and practice my hopping for the big meadow race!”
Carlos gently said, “Rosie, it sounds like you’re feeling very rushed. Why don’t you sit with me for a moment? Just breathe in… and breathe out…” Rosie sat down, and Carlos showed her how to close her eyes and listen to the gentle sounds of the wetland.
Slowly, Rosie’s twitching nose calmed down. She took a deep breath, just like Carlos. “Wow,” she said. “I feel much better already! I didn’t realize how tense I was.”
Soon, Freddie the frog joined them, complaining about needing to catch the biggest, juiciest flies. And Beatrice the bird worried about building the perfect nest. Carlos helped each of his friends take a few calming breaths.
He explained, “It’s okay to have things to do, but it’s important to be calm and enjoy the moment. And it’s always nice to spend time with friends!”
They all sat together, watching the sunset paint the sky with beautiful colors. They didn’t rush, they didn’t worry, they just *were*. Carlos showed them how to float on their backs in the shallow water, looking up at the clouds.
As the stars began to twinkle, Rosie, Freddie, and Beatrice thanked Carlos for helping them relax. They realized that being calm and spending time with friends was even better than finishing all their tasks.
Rosie hopped off to gather a *few* carrots, Freddie caught a *small* number of flies, and Beatrice started building her nest, but this time, they did it with a peaceful smile. Carlos smiled too, knowing that a little calmness and friendship could make any evening perfect. Now close your eyes, take a deep breath, and drift off to sleep, just like Carlos the capybara.