Bedtime with Mrs.
Honeybee Today we will be up on the honeybee hilltop where we can look out over all there is to see.
A calling group of birds soar in circles overhead as if they want to show us something.
All you have to do is close your eyes,
Get cozy and listen to the sound of my voice.
Mrs.
Honeybee will be your guide.
Let's begin.
You are here,
So high up on this quiet hill,
But still somehow far below the boundless blue sky above you.
The bright sun peeks out from behind wandering clouds to kiss your cheeks and warm you from the inside out.
Look your face all the way to one side until you can feel a little stretch.
Over there you see trees as still as can be that make up the forest below.
Turn your face to look all the way to the other side until you can feel a little stretch there too.
On the other side of you,
Off in the distance,
You can see a flock of birds flying in a V-shape towards you.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Feel the space created between your ribs as your chest expands as wide as the sky above.
Then,
Slowly,
Breathe all the way out through your mouth and soak in the simple,
Quiet joy of the moment.
The flock of birds that were once black dots in the distance now soar above you.
Their brown and white feathers dance in the wind created by their wings,
Which make up for a marked lack of breeze.
Where there is only stillness,
The birds create whirls of air that carry them when their wings get tired.
The flock make their way overhead toward the opposite horizon just as a gentle breeze swells.
The breeze grows and grows,
Bending the individual blades of tall grass that surround you just as it does the branches on nearby trees.
Everything on this hilltop gives way to the wind,
Bending however it can to allow it to pass,
All except for those horizon-bound birds which flap their wings more vigorously against the wind.
Another,
Smaller,
Bright yellow bird crosses their path.
They make plenty of room for each other as they pass by.
This bird,
Which is now heading toward you,
Is flying with a strong wind carried by its invisible force instead of trying to flap its wings powerfully against it,
Working against a pull in the opposite direction.
As you watch the birds,
You remember a time when you felt the breeze at your back,
Carrying you effortlessly.
You also allow yourself to remember a time when the forceful wind blew against you as you walked into it,
Splitting it in two with your physical form.
There are times when it's necessary to do both of these very different maneuvers.
These friendly birds and skies remind you of that.
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Feel your chest and your spirits lift.
Then,
Slowly,
Breathe all the way out through your mouth and sway in the gentle breeze.
All the birds fly in their respective directions to their destinations before another one appears on its own in the sky.
This one is an eagle.
She soars above in the same direction as the flock who flew against the wind.
This eagle isn't just any eagle.
She's a mother eagle whose eggs just hatched.
She's flying against the wind for the noble reason of feeding her hatchlings.
There is a time when it's necessary to fly against the wind,
To lean into a challenge,
And to marshal all of your resources to do so.
When hatchlings are depending on you,
Just like they are depending on this mama eagle,
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Feel any responsibility you have to yourself or those around you swell in your chest with your breath.
Then,
Slowly,
Breathe all the way out through your mouth as a vow to struggle when,
And most importantly how,
It is both necessary and beneficial.
Just like the mother eagle took such good care of her hatchlings who needed her,
You take such good care of your family,
Friends,
And loved ones when they need you.
Your heart is filled with love that you generously give to both yourself and others in need.
Since you are such a good,
Honest,
Loving person,
You may be more susceptible to struggle against wind that is much too powerful for one set of wings to take on.
Sitting perfectly still up here on this hill,
Yet another bird comes into view from the distance.
A beautifully colorful bird with graceful,
Commanding wings that cut through the wind and propel him forward in your direction.
He's out for a peaceful afternoon soar without a particular destination in mind.
He sees you on the hill with his bird's eye view and decides to join you for the afternoon.
As he continues flying towards you,
Another breeze swells and whirls into a wind that blows harder and harder at your back.
Again,
The grass and branches bend to an invisible force and leaves dislodge from their branches and flutter through the sky.
Overhead,
This colorful bird flaps his wings harder and harder,
Trying to create a competing breeze with his own two wings.
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Use your breath as a vortex to pull him towards you,
To help him in the way he needs to be helped at this moment.
Then,
Slowly breathe all the way out through your mouth as you watch your eager friend try to reach you against the wind.
He grows more and more tired,
But the breeze shows no sign of quieting down.
You wave your hand as if to invite him back to this hilltop another day.
You will be here to greet him then,
Too.
Reluctantly,
The colorful bird swoops around and rests his weary wings soaring along the wind's path.
When the colorful bird is out of sight and disappears into the vast horizon,
The breeze again calms down.
Some important things in life require us to fly against the breeze,
But at other times,
Out of a sense of duty or guilt,
We may find ourselves struggling in a way that doesn't benefit anyone.
Protect your heart from that kind of struggling,
Knowing that what is yours will never pass you by or forget you.
The wind may simply carry it somewhere else before it gets to you.
Always remember,
Mrs.
Honeybee believes in you.
You are special and you are loved.
I can't wait to see you again.
