The squirrel who discovered gratitude.
Hi there,
Little dreamer.
If your eyes are still open,
That's okay.
If they're already closing,
That's okay too.
All you have to do is listen.
Let's take a slow breath in together,
Nice and gentle,
And let it float out again,
Like a soft leaf drifting down.
High above you,
The night sky is awake.
Stars twinkle slowly,
One by one,
As if they are blinking just for you.
And somewhere in the quiet,
Starry sky,
A warm glow begins to shine.
A door appears,
Not a loud door,
Not a heavy door,
But a gentle,
Glowing,
Magic door,
Soft around the edges,
Like it's made of moonlight and calm.
The door waits patiently.
It's never in a hurry.
When you feel ready,
You step closer.
Your feet feel lighter.
Your body feels safe.
As the door opens,
A peaceful feeling washes over you,
Like a cozy blanket settling just right.
Step through now,
Slowly,
Comfortably,
And with one last soft breath out,
You find yourself somewhere new.
You are standing in a magical forest,
Bathed in a warm,
Golden light.
Tall trees stretch up toward the sky,
Their leaves shimmering gently,
Whispering soft hello sounds as the breeze passes through.
Sunlight filters down in the quiet patterns,
Making the forest floor glow.
The air smells clean and fresh,
Like morning mix with calm.
All around you,
The forest animals are moving slowly,
Peacefully,
Each one busy in their own gentle way.
A family of rabbits tidies their burrows.
An owl fluffs the feathers in her hollow tree.
Foxes stretch and yawn near their cozy den.
Nothing rushes.
Nothing feels loud.
And high up in the branches of the great old oak tree lives a young squirrel named Mateo.
Mateo has soft brown fur,
Bright curious eyes,
And a fluffy tail that twitches when he thinks.
Every day,
Mateo follows the same quiet routine.
He gathers acorns.
He hops from branch to branch.
He checks on his small nest,
Tucked safely between sturdy limbs.
This nest is his home.
It holds him at night.
It keeps him warm.
It knows his shape.
But tonight,
As the forest hums softly around him,
Mateo still sits in his nest,
Looking out through the leaves.
The light flickers gently.
The breeze hums.
The world feels calm.
And yet,
Inside Mateo's chest,
Something feels a little tight.
He holds an acorn in his paws,
Turning it slowly,
While the forest continues breathing all around him.
Everything is peaceful.
Everything is safe.
And Mateo is about to learn something small,
And something very important.
Mateo lets out a small sigh.
It's not a loud sigh,
Just a quiet one,
The kind that drifts out when no one else is listening.
He looks at his nest,
At the branches that twist and cross,
At the acorns tucked in the corners.
It's so small,
Mateo whispered.
Not like the fox's warm den,
Or the owl's big,
Hollow tree.
His tail flicked once,
Then again.
Mateo peeks through the leaves,
And notices other homes around the forest.
The owl's tree looks wide and strong.
The fox's den looks deep and snug.
Even the rabbit's burrow looks soft and busy.
Mateo's chest feels heavy.
My branches are plain,
He murmurs.
My acorns are ordinary.
Why don't I have something special?
The forest listens quietly.
The breeze doesn't rush him.
The leaves don't interrupt.
Mateo hugs his acorn close.
He isn't angry.
He isn't loud.
He just feels small.
And when a little feeling like that shows up,
It can feel lonely.
Just then,
A flutter of wings brushes the air.
A cheerful robin lands on a nearby branch,
Her feathers shimmering softly,
Red and warm like sunset light.
Hola,
Mateo!
She chirps gently.
Why the long face?
Mateo looks up.
Oh,
Hi,
Ruby,
He says.
He hesitates,
Then tells her everything.
About his nest.
About the other animals.
About wishing for more.
Ruby listens.
She doesn't rush.
She doesn't interrupt.
When Mateo finishes,
Ruby tilts her head,
Her eyes kind and bright.
I think,
She says softly,
That I know just the thing you need.
Mateo blinks.
You do?
Ruby flutters her wings.
Come with me.
They move through the forest together,
Past mosey stones and sunlit paths,
Until they reach the tallest tree Mateo has ever seen.
Its trunk is wide and strong.
Its leaves shimmer faintly,
As if they are holding a quiet secret.
This,
Ruby says,
Is the whispering tree.
Mateo leans closer.
It looks alive,
Ruby smiles.
It is,
And it grows stronger when someone practices gratitude.
Mateo wrinkles his nose.
Grat-a-what?
Gratitude,
Ruby repeats.
It means saying thank you for the little things.
Not because they're big,
But because they're yours.
Mateo looks doubtful.
How can that help my nest?
Ruby hops closer.
Let's try something small.
She points her beak towards a patch of sunlight,
Warming the forest.
Mateo pauses.
Then,
A little shyly,
He says,
Thank you,
Sun,
For being warm?
The leaves rustle just a little.
Mateo's ears twitch.
Ruby claps her wings once.
Did you hear that?
Mateo nodded slowly.
He looks at the branches beneath his paws.
Thank you,
Branch,
For holding me?
The rustle grows softer,
Then warmer,
Like a gentle hum.
Mateo feels something new in his chest.
Not big,
Not loud.
Just lighter.
Mateo's tail sways slowly as he looks around,
Feeling the gentle hum of the whispering tree.
This is kind of nice,
He says,
But I bet it's easier for the fox or the owl.
They already have everything.
As soon as the words slip out,
The forest grows quieter.
The hum fades.
The leaves stop shimmering.
The whispering tree stands still.
Mateo's ears drooped.
Oh no,
He whispered.
Did I break it?
Ruby flutters down and lands softly beside him.
No,
Mateo,
She says kindly.
You didn't break anything.
She taps her wing gently against his shoulder.
Gratitude isn't about looking at what others have.
It's about noticing what is already holding you.
Mateo looks down.
He takes a slow breath.
I'm sorry,
He says quietly.
I was thinking about what I don't have.
Ruby nods.
That happens sometimes.
Let's try again.
Just you and your world.
Mateo closes his eyes for a moment.
Then he opens them and looks around.
Thank you,
Breeze,
He says,
For cooling my fur.
The leaves stir.
A soft whisper returns.
Thank you,
Forest,
Mateo continues,
For keeping me safe.
The hum grows warmer.
The trees' leaves shimmer again,
Slow and steady like a heartbeat.
Mateo smiles.
This feels different.
This feels real.
Mateo makes his way back home,
Moving gently from branch to branch.
The forest feels quieter now.
Softer.
When he reaches his nest,
It looks the same as before.
The same branches.
The same acorns.
But Mateo is different.
He steps inside and settles down,
His body relaxing without even trying.
Thank you,
Nest,
He whispers,
For keeping me safe.
The words feel warm.
Thank you,
Branches,
For giving me a place to rest.
Mateo curls his tail around himself.
The nest fits him perfectly.
The forest hums in the distance.
The whispering tree whispers softly,
Even from far away.
Mateo's breath slows.
His eyes grow heavy.
Everything he needs is already here.
And wrapped in that quiet understanding,
Mateo drifts into the coziest sleep he's ever known.
And now,
Little dreamer,
The forest grows very still.
The stars begin to glow softly again.
And somewhere,
Far away,
The magic door waits quietly,
Holding its gentle light.
Mateo sleeps peacefully in his nest.
His breathing,
Slow and easy.
His heart,
Warm and full.
He learns something small,
But powerful.
That gratitude isn't about having more.
It's about noticing what is already here.
And now,
It's your turn.
You don't have to say anything out loud.
You can just think quietly,
Inside your heart.
Maybe you're thankful for something cozy.
Maybe for someone kind.
Maybe for a moment today,
That felt safe or gentle.
Whatever it is,
Let it rest with you.
And as your body relaxes,
Let these words float softly through you.
I have enough.
I am safe.
Thank you.
Once more,
Like a whisper,
Like a lullaby.
I have enough.
I am safe.
Thank you.
The forest hums.
The stars blink slowly.
And as the sleep wraps you up,
Remember this gentle key.
Gratitude makes the world softer.
And so does rest.
Good night,
Little dreamer.
Sleep well.
