Luna the little firefly wasn't feeling sleepy. She blinked and blinked, but her light felt wiggly and full of energy. “I just can’t seem to settle down,” she buzzed to her mama. Mama Firefly smiled. “Tonight, Luna, we’re going on a special journey. A journey to the Quiet Cloud.”
“The Quiet Cloud?” Luna asked, tilting her head. “What’s that?” Mama Firefly explained, “It’s a fluffy, gentle cloud where all the sleepy thoughts go to rest. We’ll take a deep breath, and imagine ourselves floating right up to it.” Luna closed her eyes and took a big, slow breath, just like her mama showed her. She imagined a warm, golden light filling her tummy with each breath.
Slowly, Luna felt herself lifting off the ground. It wasn’t a fast zoom, but a gentle float, like a feather on the breeze. She opened her eyes and gasped! Below her, the meadow looked like a patchwork quilt of greens and browns. Above her, a huge, fluffy cloud glowed with a soft, silver light. It looked so inviting and peaceful.
As Luna drifted closer, she noticed little sparkles dancing around the cloud. “What are those?” she whispered. “Those are sleepy thoughts,” Mama Firefly replied. “Every time you have a thought, it makes a little sparkle. The Quiet Cloud collects all the sparkles and helps them turn into sweet dreams.”
Luna thought about her day. She remembered building a tower of pebbles with her friend, Flicker. A little sparkle appeared, shimmering with the memory of fun. She remembered feeling a little bit worried about learning a new flying pattern. Another sparkle, this one a bit wobbly, floated towards the cloud.
Mama Firefly guided Luna. “Notice each sparkle, Luna. Acknowledge it, and then gently let the Quiet Cloud take it away. Don’t hold onto any worries or excitements. Just let them float.” Luna practiced letting go. She watched the sparkles drift towards the cloud, feeling lighter and calmer with each one.
She imagined the cloud wrapping around her, soft and warm like a blanket. She focused on her breathing, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her tiny chest. In… and out… with each breath, she felt more and more relaxed. The wobbly sparkle of worry faded, replaced by a peaceful glow.
Luna realized that even though she had lots of thoughts, she didn’t need to *be* her thoughts. She could simply watch them come and go, like clouds in the sky. This felt very peaceful. She snuggled closer to Mama Firefly on the Quiet Cloud.
“Now, Luna,” Mama Firefly said softly, “Let’s send a little sparkle of gratitude to all the good things in your life. Think of something you’re thankful for.” Luna thought of her mama’s warm hugs. A bright, golden sparkle floated from her and joined the others on the cloud.
Luna’s light began to dim, not because it was going out, but because she was becoming very, very sleepy. She yawned a tiny firefly yawn. “I feel so calm, Mama,” she murmured. “The Quiet Cloud is wonderful.” Mama Firefly smiled. “It always is, sweet Luna. Now, close your eyes and let the Quiet Cloud carry you to dreamland.”
And as Luna drifted off to sleep, she knew that whenever she felt wiggly or worried, she could always visit the Quiet Cloud in her imagination. She took one last deep breath, and her light blinked… then blinked… then softly, peacefully, went out.