Luna the firefly wasn't excited about bedtime. Usually, she loved zooming around the meadow with her friends, blinking her light as brightly as she could. But tonight, her light felt…flickery. Not bright and happy, but small and wobbly. She told her mama, “I just feel…buzzing inside. Like too many thoughts are bumping into each other!” Mama Firefly smiled gently. “That’s a sign you need a little quiet time, Luna. A little meditation.”
Luna wrinkled her nose. “Meditation? Sounds boring!” Mama Firefly chuckled. “It’s not boring at all! It’s like finding a quiet place inside yourself, even when things feel busy. Close your eyes, Luna, and let’s pretend we’re floating on a soft, green leaf down the Whispering River.” Luna closed her eyes, though it was hard. Her thoughts kept popping up: *Did I say goodbye to Barnaby Beetle? What if it rains tomorrow?*
“Now,” Mama Firefly said softly, “take a deep breath, filling your tummy like a balloon. And slowly, slowly, let the air out.” Luna tried. It felt a little strange, but as she breathed out, some of the buzzing inside seemed to quiet down. “Good,” Mama Firefly whispered. “Now, imagine the river. It’s smooth and cool, and the sun is setting, painting the water with orange and pink.”
Luna pictured the river. She imagined tiny silver fish swimming beneath the leaf, and fluffy white clouds drifting overhead. With each breath, she focused on the colors, the sounds of the gentle water, and the feeling of the leaf beneath her. *In…out…orange…pink…smooth…cool.* Her thoughts still came, but now they felt like clouds passing by – she noticed them, but didn’t get carried away by them.
“Now, let’s listen to our bodies,” Mama Firefly continued. “Feel your wings resting. Feel your little legs tucked in. Notice how your tummy feels as it rises and falls with each breath. There’s no need to change anything, just notice.” Luna focused on the feeling of her wings. They felt a little tired from all the zooming she’d done earlier. It was a nice tired feeling.
Suddenly, Luna realized something amazing. Her light wasn’t flickery anymore! It was glowing steadily, a warm and peaceful light. The buzzing inside had almost disappeared. She felt…calm. “Mama,” she whispered, “I feel so much better!”
“That’s the magic of finding your quiet place, Luna,” Mama Firefly said, hugging her close. “It’s always there for you, whenever you need it. Even when you’re wide awake, you can close your eyes and float down the Whispering River.”
Luna snuggled into her mama’s side. “Can we do this every night?” she asked sleepily. Mama Firefly smiled. “Whenever you like, my little firefly. Now, close your eyes, take one more deep breath, and let the river carry you off to dreamland.” Luna closed her eyes, her light shining softly, and drifted off to sleep, knowing that even when her mind felt busy, she always had a quiet place inside.