Welcome to a bedtime story,
The Best Presents Ever.
I am so happy you are here for this ancient tale about one of the best presents ever given.
This secret comes from wise people who lived thousands of years ago,
Long before stores and online shopping existed.
They knew about the most meaningful presents.
Before we get to this story,
Let us get comfy.
Cozy up now,
Into those soft,
Cuddly blankets and a snuggly toy,
If you have one.
Feel yourself sinking into the bed under you,
As you settle in for this tale from years long ago.
Take in a few long,
Deep breaths as you settle in.
With each breath in,
Imagine a wave of healthy energy coming into your body.
And as you let each breath go,
You are letting go of anything you no longer need.
Nothing to do,
Nothing to worry about.
Just listen to my voice.
Just breathe normally.
And relax.
Very good.
Now it is time for our story about the best presents ever.
Serena was worried.
She had had an argument with one of her favorite friends at school.
She did not intend to have an argument.
She had stopped listening to her friend Alden as her mind drifted to thinking about other things.
Have you ever stopped listening this way?
Maybe you were thinking of the next thing you were going to say.
Her friend Alden was always so calm.
He seemed to think for a second or two every time he had something to say.
And when he spoke,
It always seemed important.
It was obvious he had listened to every word Serena said before he would talk.
Serena felt bad that she interrupted Alden earlier that day,
As he was trying to explain a rule for a game they were playing.
She did not understand,
At the time,
That he was just trying to be helpful.
Alden seemed hurt that she was not listening,
Yet he was kind enough to say she would learn about the game's rules on her own one day.
Still,
Serena was worried this argument would not be good for their friendship.
She was worried they might stop being friends.
At first,
She thought about buying something to show she was sorry for the argument.
She had seen how,
Sometimes,
Adults will buy something after having an argument to try to make the other person feel better for a few minutes.
It was not a traditional holiday,
Or even Alden's birthday,
But she thought maybe a gift for Alden would help her say sorry.
What would be the best present she could get for Alden?
Serena felt she just had to find and buy the best present ever.
Where would she find it?
She used her mom's laptop to try online shopping,
But nothing she searched seemed like a good idea.
Then she went to the local shopping mall and realized that nothing could make up for that argument.
There was no present she could bring to school the next day to give Alden to say sorry.
As she lay in her bed at the end of a long shopping day,
She felt frustrated,
Worried.
But then she remembered something Alden once told her when she was wondering how he always seemed so calm and why he was able to never interrupt her when she spoke.
Alden mentioned that in ancient times,
The wise people then knew the best gift ever,
And it was not anything you could buy.
They could never put these best presents ever in a package or even hold it in their hands.
It did not require money,
But it did require having patience,
Razor-sharp awareness,
And self-control.
She now remembered the ancient secret.
She remembered Alden had said for thousands of years the wise elders knew that the best present ever was a thing called presence.
Presence was when one is being present in the moment,
Like here,
Now.
Serena was excited and encouraged as she remembered this ancient wisdom.
She made a promise to herself.
From now on,
She would do her best to be fully aware,
Fully engaged in others,
To listen to what they were saying instead of thinking about the next thing she would say or interrupting.
She would do her best to understand.
By being mindful and focused in the present moment.
The next day as she arrived at school,
Serena was no longer worried.
She confidently walked up to Alden and said,
Sorry for the argument.
Then she said,
Thank you,
Too.
She was grateful the argument made her remember the ancient secret called presence.
She then repeated her promise to Alden to always do her best to give him her presence,
Her full attention in the present moment.
From now on,
Serena promised she would listen instead of thinking about the next thing she would say or even blurting it out before he finished talking as she did the day of the argument.
Not surprisingly,
Wise Alden listened calmly and smiled happily the entire time she spoke to him.
Serena noticed how he was so skilled at never interrupting her.
When Alden finally spoke,
She listened fully,
Now keeping her promise.
He told Serena he valued her friendship and the earlier conversation she worried about didn't bother him as much as it did her.
She listened mindfully as she practiced being fully engaged,
Fully present,
And realized that doing so meant enjoying their conversation much more fully.
They were now able to play without misunderstandings.
They would now pay attention to the other's emotions and of their own emotions.
And with this new understanding,
They could even solve problems together more easily.
Their friendship connection was now stronger than ever.
Now as they played,
Mindfully present and fully aware in the moment,
They continued to create lasting memories each day.
For Serena,
Learning about presence was the best present ever.
Could it be yours too?
Could you try to have complete presence with others tomorrow?
Let's engage in the present moment now as we get ready for a deep,
Restful sleep.
Nothing to do or to think about now.
Let's get comfy,
Lying down in your bed,
Thinking about making your body calm,
Relaxed.
Gently close your eyes.
You are safe here.
Now notice your breathing.
Thinking about your breathing helps you relax.
Fresh healthy energy in every breath in,
And letting out what you no longer need with every breath out.
Let's take three long,
Deep breaths.
A deep breath in,
And then a slow,
Long breath out.
Again,
Deep breath in,
And then a slow,
Long breath out.
Very good.
One more time.
Deep breath in,
And then a slow,
Long breath out.
Eyes closed,
Calmly breathing.
You are ready to have complete presence with others tomorrow.
It is the best present ever,
Being present in each moment.
And now you are ready for a deep,
Restful sleep.
Your body is feeling heavier,
Heavier,
Gently supported by the bed under you.
You feel relaxed.
You are comfy,
Cozy,
Safe.
It is time now for pleasant and sweet dreams.
Sleep well,
My friend.
