Luna the firefly blinked her light, a gentle glow in the twilight. She loved bedtime! Not because she got to sleep – fireflies are busy twinkling all night – but because she loved helping her friends get ready for dreams. Tonight, she visited Barnaby Bear, who was tossing and turning in his cozy cave.
“What’s wrong, Barnaby?” Luna asked softly. Barnaby sighed. “I just… can’t seem to quiet my thoughts! I keep thinking about all the berries I ate today, and if I remembered to thank the bees, and if I packed enough honey for tomorrow!”
Luna smiled. “Those are good thoughts, Barnaby, but they’re a little too busy for bedtime. Let’s try something. Close your eyes, and imagine you’re floating on a fluffy cloud.” Barnaby closed his eyes, but he wiggled his paws. “I’m still thinking!”
“That’s okay,” Luna said. “Now, take a deep breath, like you’re smelling a field of wildflowers. And let it out slowly, like you’re blowing bubbles.” Barnaby took a deep breath, and then a slow, gentle exhale. He wiggled a little less.
Luna continued, “Now, imagine each breath is carrying away one of those busy thoughts. The berry thoughts… float away. The bee-thanking thoughts… float away. The honey thoughts… float away.”
Barnaby took another deep breath, and another. With each exhale, he felt a little calmer, a little sleepier. Luna then flew to Rosie Rabbit, who was worried about a little bump on her nose.
“It’s not very big,” Rosie sniffled, “but what if it gets bigger? What if it doesn’t go away?” Luna gently touched Rosie’s nose with her light. “Rosie, sometimes little things bother us, even when they shouldn’t. Let’s focus on how soft your fur feels, and how warm your burrow is.”
Luna encouraged Rosie to think about happy things – carrots, playing with her friends, and the sunshine. Soon, Rosie was yawning. Luna visited Finley Fox, who was just feeling a little bit restless. She reminded him to wiggle his toes and then let them be still.
One by one, Luna helped her friends find their calm. As the moon climbed higher, the forest grew quiet. Luna knew that even when thoughts popped up, a deep breath and a happy thought could help anyone drift off to sleep. And as she twinkled through the night, she whispered, “Sweet dreams, everyone. Sweet dreams.”
Now close *your* eyes, little one. Take a deep breath, and let all your busy thoughts float away, just like Barnaby Bear. Think of something happy, and let sleep carry you away to wonderful dreams.