Bedtime with Mrs.
Honeybee Today,
We will be up on the honeybee hilltop,
Where we can look out over all there is to see.
An all-but-forgotten teddy bear found in the grass turns up in our path as if it wants 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,
Sitting in the sunshine on top of a quiet,
Peaceful hill.
Look your face all the way to one side until you can feel a little stretch and the warm sun on your cheek.
Then look your face all the way to the other side until you can feel a little stretch there too.
The sun shines down on your other cheek and,
Over there,
It shines down on something else.
You bring your gaze back to a comfortable center and reach toward the soft brown fluff of what you found hidden in plain sight in the grass.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Gather your breath into your chest as it rounds out as big as the sun.
Then,
Slowly,
Breathe all the way out through your mouth and grab a sweet little teddy bear who is lying face up in the grass,
Just like you.
You pick it up and hold it between your two hands,
Its dark brown fur is soft to the touch but covered with a thin layer of dust as if it's been laying here for a while.
Once again,
You look all around you for any sign of someone who may have accidentally forgotten their snuggly companion.
When you don't see anyone for as far as you can see,
You look back down at the sweet teddy bear in your hands and wonder where it came from and how it got here.
Teddy bears do not grow in the wild and you've never before seen a teddy bear field,
So you know this stuffed animal had to come here with someone,
Travel all the way here from somewhere else.
You lightly brush your fingertips against its baby soft fur and begin to notice indentations on its fur in specific spots,
Indentations that are even softer,
More worn out and more worn down than other parts of the teddy bear.
Whoever held this lost stuffed animal before you must have loved to snuggle with it in that specific way.
Was this someone's security blanket,
Someone's protector and companion?
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose,
Feel the sensation of your heart beating once,
Twice,
Three times,
Then slowly breathe all the way out through your mouth and bring yourself back to a time when you felt protected,
Safe and cozy.
Let yourself think of all the things in your life that bring you joy through a sense of comfort.
Looking back at this worn out dusty bear,
You can tell it once brought someone that kind of happiness.
Even if you don't know it,
Now or possibly ever,
Everything you see,
And even some things you can't see,
Has a story.
Now,
Holding this sweet little teddy bear in your hands,
You are part of its story and it's part of yours.
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose,
Feel your chest and your spirits lift filled with love,
Then slowly breathe all the way out through your mouth and blow the layer of dust that has gathered on the teddy bear's fur out into the grass.
Suddenly it looks brand new and its friendly eyes sparkle in the bright sunshine.
You turn the teddy bear over to inspect its fluffy paws and see that a name is embroidered on the bottom with bright blue thread.
Looking closely,
You realize that it says your name.
Another somebody that shares your name and time spent here left their teddy bear behind,
Either accidentally or for some strange,
Unknowable reason.
Take another slow,
Deep breath in through your nose and let your imagination soar as broadly and expansive as the blue sky overhead.
Then slowly breathe all the way out through your mouth and wonder at this bear's story.
There's no wrong answer because it's simply not yet known and may never be known.
Maybe someone with your name came all the way up here to this peaceful hilltop to relax and enjoy the sunshine,
Just like you.
They brought their most favorite companion to enjoy the sunshine with them but had to leave in a hurry when they suddenly remembered that they promised a friend they'd visit them and teach them how to juggle.
They ran off down the hill and this teddy bear mistakenly stayed behind,
Partially hidden by the tall grass.
Or,
What if that person,
The one who shares your name,
Came up here with this teddy bear and purposely left this wonderfully protected stuffed animal because they knew that anyone who came up here might want to experience peace and comfort.
Maybe this teddy bear was left here for someone like you by someone you don't know who wanted to help you.
Stroking its soft,
Worn-out fur,
You know that this little bear was so loved,
But what happens in the next part of the teddy bear story rests in your hand,
Literally.
Take your slowest,
Deepest breath in through your nose.
Feel the coolness of the crisp air coming in through your nose,
Pulled down from a single blue sky over all of us and filling up your lungs.
Then,
Slowly,
Breathe all the way out through your mouth and feel the sensation of your heart beat once,
Twice,
Three times.
As we live our lives,
We bump into each other in strange and not-so-strange ways that bring us together and deliver us to where we need to go.
Just like you cross paths with this teddy bear,
You will cross paths with so many other people,
Creatures,
And things.
Each time our lives,
Accidentally or not,
Bump into someone else's,
We have an effect whether we realize it or not.
So much responsibility and opportunity is delivered directly to us in the form of all that our life's journey involves.
Will you take this teddy bear back home,
Where you hang posters alerting the neighbors that it's been found?
Will you leave it here,
Leaned up against a nearby tree,
To pass along the wonder and possibility to the next person who visits this beautiful place?
What effects do you want to have in this world and in others?
The teddy bear's glassy eyes sparkle once again in the sunshine,
As if it's winking at you,
Excited to be along for the ride no matter what you decide to do.
Always remember,
Mrs.
Honeybee believes in you.
You are special and you are loved.
I can't wait to see you again.
