Leo the lion cub loved doing the *same* things every day. He loved tumbling on his favorite patch of grass, chasing butterflies (the slow, yellow ones!), and napping in the warm sunshine. But anything new? Oh dear, that was scary! His mama always said, "Leo, even little lions can be brave!"
One sunny morning, Mama Lion brought home a bright red ball. "Look, Leo! A new toy!" she said cheerfully. Leo peeked at it from behind his mama’s mane. It looked…bouncy. And different. "I…I don’t want to," he mumbled. "It might roll away! Or bounce too high!"
Mama Lion smiled gently. "It’s okay to be a little scared, Leo. But sometimes, the best things happen when we try something new. Just *one* little bounce?"
Leo took a deep breath and tapped the ball with his paw. It didn’t zoom away! It just wobbled a little. He tapped it again, a bit harder. This time, it bounced! Not too high, just a gentle bounce. Leo giggled. It *was* fun!
He started batting the ball with both paws, chasing it around the garden. He learned to bounce it higher and higher, and even tried to roll it with his nose. It wasn’t always easy. Sometimes the ball rolled under a bush, and he had to ask Mama Lion for help. But he kept trying.
Soon, Leo was having the best time ever. He wasn’t scared anymore! He was proud of himself for being brave enough to try something new. He realized that even if things are a little tricky at first, they can become really fun with a little bit of effort.
That night, as Mama Lion tucked him into bed, Leo said, "Mama, trying new things isn’t so scary after all!" Mama Lion kissed his forehead. "That’s my brave little lion," she whispered. "Remember, even easy things were new once. And you are always capable of more than you think."
Leo closed his eyes, dreaming of all the new adventures he would have tomorrow. He knew that even if something seemed a little bit scary, he could always try his best, and that’s all that mattered. And that made bedtime feel extra cozy and peaceful.