It's time to close down your eyes and settle right in.
Our meditation story is about to begin.
So take a deep breath in and a deep breath out.
Can you stretch out your body and let any wiggles come out?
Now close down your eyes and take another breath in as we start to use our imagination.
This is a story about my new friend,
Joy.
One day,
A new emotion moved right into my life.
Where did it come from?
Why is it here?
I wondered,
What do I do with Joy?
At first,
I didn't really think much of it.
It always wanted to come along whenever I was doing something fun.
Making cookies,
Going to baseball practice,
Playing dolls or games with my sister.
It even came with me most days to school.
Sometimes I would worry about what other people would think about the things Joy and I liked to do together.
What if the things Joy and I liked weren't the same things that my friends liked?
What if the other kids didn't think Joy was cool?
I started to worry and then I started to keep Joy to myself.
I'd only bring her out with me to the places other people brought their Joy.
But there was something so special about Joy.
And I had to admit,
I sure felt better and happier when she was around.
Joy loved to play.
Joy loved to learn.
Joy loved to eat all the yummy foods I like to eat.
And one day I realized,
It didn't really matter what anyone else thought.
Joy was my friend.
I started bringing Joy everywhere with me.
Even though sometimes I was afraid of what other people might say or think about Joy.
Sometimes I was afraid kids would think Joy was silly.
And some of them did.
They'd say she liked baby things or was too weird.
And at first I believed them.
But then I remembered it didn't really matter what they thought.
Joy was my friend.
I promised Joy I would always be there.
To play with her.
To be silly.
To protect her and care for her.
Joy grew and grew and so did my love for all the things we liked to do together.
Joy makes me feel like I can do anything.
She encourages me to dream big and do whatever makes me happy.
I can't imagine my life without my friend Joy.
Because Joy isn't just a part of me now.
She's everywhere I go.
Do you have a friend like Joy?
