Lila loved gymnastics more than anything. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she’d rush to the gym, her sparkly leotard practically vibrating with excitement. But Lila wasn’t a natural. While some of her friends flipped and twirled with ease, Lila often stumbled, wobbled, and sometimes even tumbled right off the beam!
Tonight, as Lila snuggled into bed, she couldn’t stop thinking about her wobbly beam routine. She’d practiced the cartwheel a hundred times, but it still felt shaky. ‘I’ll never be good enough,’ she whispered to her stuffed bunny, Barnaby. Barnaby, of course, didn’t say anything, but Lila imagined he was giving her a comforting squeeze.
Suddenly, Lila found herself *inside* her dream! She was standing in a giant, fluffy gymnasium, but everything was made of clouds. A friendly, twinkling star floated down. “Welcome, Lila!” the star chirped. “This is the Dream Gym, where you can practice anything without fear.”
Lila cautiously stepped onto a cloud-beam. It felt surprisingly solid! She tried her cartwheel, and… it was perfect! She landed gracefully, a huge smile spreading across her face. She tried a handstand, and it held steady. She even attempted a little flip, and it felt effortless.
But then, the cloud-beam started to wobble. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed, even in a dream! Lila felt a familiar wobble in her tummy. She almost lost her balance, but she remembered what her coach, Miss Anya, always said: ‘Even the best gymnasts fall. It’s how you get back up that matters.’
Lila took a deep breath and focused. She tightened her core, pointed her toes, and slowly, carefully, regained her balance. She didn’t give up. She practiced again and again, each time getting a little stronger, a little steadier.
The star twinkled encouragingly. “See, Lila? It’s not about being perfect right away. It’s about trying your best and never giving up, even when it’s hard.” Lila realized the star was right. The Dream Gym wasn’t about magically being a perfect gymnast; it was about practicing and believing in herself.
She practiced her beam routine, falling a few times, but always getting back up. Each time she fell, she reminded herself, ‘I can do this. I will try my best.’ And with every attempt, she felt a little more confident.
Slowly, Lila began to wake up. The fluffy clouds faded, and she was back in her own bed, Barnaby nestled beside her. She stretched and smiled. She knew she still had a lot of practice ahead of her, but she wasn’t afraid anymore.
She understood that gymnastics, and everything else in life, wasn’t about being perfect. It was about perseverance, believing in herself, and having a positive attitude. She closed her eyes, feeling grateful for her dream and excited for her next gymnastics class. She knew, with a little bit of practice and a whole lot of heart, she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Now close *your* eyes, little one, and dream sweet dreams of leaps and bounds!