Kelti Learns Meditation

Here’s another of my Kelti stories - here Kelti’s Grandma teaches her how to meditate. She explains why meditation is good to do, and shares simple meditation techniques which Kelti can use to help her sleep and relax.

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Transcript

Hello,

My name is Jacqueline and I am a very proud grandma.

I write stories for my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.

So make yourself comfortable because my next story is about to begin.

Kelty Learns Meditation Oh,

Why can't I sleep?

Kelty grumbled as she tossed and turned in her bed.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

She felt really tired,

But no matter how hard she tried,

She could not sleep.

She got out of bed and quietly went onto the landing and listened.

All was quiet.

Kelty went back to bed,

Realising that it must be the middle of the night as she could hear her parents gently snoring.

She switched on her bedside lamp and picked up the book she had been reading.

For some reason,

Reading in bed always made her sleepy.

Kelty,

Wake up!

It's time to get ready for school.

Kelty opened her eyes wearily and gave a little smile to her mum who was standing over her bed.

Didn't you sleep well last night,

Sweetheart?

Are you sick?

Mum asked,

Sounding worried as she felt her daughter's forehead.

Kelty sat up.

Oh,

I'm fine,

Mum,

She said,

Yawning.

I struggled to get to sleep last night,

But I read my book for a while,

Which made me sleepy.

She yawned again as she climbed out of bed.

I hope you don't fall asleep at school today,

Mum said,

Opening Kelty's curtains and letting in the morning sunshine.

Oh,

And don't forget,

You're going to Grandma's house straight from school today.

I have to take Louis to the dentist.

After school,

Kelty went to her Grandma's house.

Grandma had a nice cup of tea and some homemade cake laid out on the coffee table in the lounge ready for her.

Grandma did like making cakes and Kelty really enjoyed eating them.

That was delicious,

Grandma,

Said Kelty,

Finishing off the last crumbs from her plate.

It was just what I needed.

She sat back in the chair and yawned.

Did you have a busy day at school today?

Asked Grandma,

Taking Kelty's plate from her.

No,

Not really.

I just didn't sleep very well last night.

Sometimes I seem to struggle getting to sleep.

Why is that?

Asked Grandma,

Placing the dirty plates and cups on a tray ready to carry into the kitchen.

It mainly happens when I have things on my mind,

Such as tests or homework I need to get done,

Explained Kelty.

It is very frustrating when it happens.

Mum says to picture sheep in my mind jumping over a fence and to count each one as it jumps.

Does that work?

Asked Grandma,

Remembering that this was what she had told Kelty's mum to do when she was a child and unable to sleep.

Sometimes,

But not very often,

Replied Kelty,

Yawning again.

Oh,

Last night I read my book,

Which did make me sleepy eventually.

I really hope I sleep well tonight.

I find it hard to concentrate on my lessons when I'm tired.

I used to struggle to get to sleep,

Grandma said,

Completely understanding Kelty's frustration.

What helped you?

Asked Kelty,

Yawning again.

Well,

I have a little routine I like to do each evening,

Explained Grandma.

I stop using my iPad by 8pm and try to go to bed at the same time every night.

Our body likes routine.

Mum always tells me to go to bed at the same time every night,

Yawned Kelty.

Oh,

Even if I'm not tired.

Oh,

She says it's good to relax and I have that quiet time so my body knows it's nearly time to sleep.

Yes,

Exactly right.

I like to read if I'm not quite ready to sleep,

Said Grandma.

That's what I do too,

Kelty agreed,

Not surprised her Grandma read,

As she always had a pile of books by her bed.

But what do you do if reading doesn't make you sleepy?

I meditate,

Answered Grandma.

Meditate,

Repeated Kelty.

I have heard that word before,

But I don't really know what it is or why we would do it.

Well,

Normally the reason why we can't sleep is because our mind is either focused on something from the past,

Which we can do nothing about,

As it has already happened,

Or something in the future,

Which we worry about happening,

Explained Grandma.

Like you thinking about your tests at school,

The tests are going to happen whether you worry about them or not.

That is very true,

Agreed Kelty.

And when I'm tired from not sleeping,

I don't get very good marks at all,

Just like I imagined.

Exactly,

Said Grandma.

When we meditate,

It makes us aware of the here and now,

As we focus on our breathing or our body or how we are feeling.

My favourite way is to do a guided meditation that takes us on a journey,

Almost like a story to focus my mind.

In short,

Meditation is about attention and awareness as we bring our mind to a calm place without worrying about other things.

But isn't meditation where we have to sit still and think of nothing,

Asked Kelty,

Remembering something a friend at school had said about it.

I don't think I can think of nothing.

My mind is always thinking.

That is true,

Agreed Grandma.

Even I can't think of nothing and I've been doing meditation for many,

Many years.

But with practice,

We can learn to push unwanted thoughts away and bring our attention back to the present moment as we meditate.

And the more we can make it a regular habit,

The more we feel like we don't have a care in the world.

But what has meditation got to do with going to sleep?

Kelty asked.

Well,

When we meditate at night,

Just before sleep,

The unnecessary thoughts we don't need to think about at that time,

Which are keeping us awake,

Are pushed away and replaced with relaxation.

As we meditate,

We are transported to a place of calm and eventually sleep takes over.

So should we only do meditation at night?

No,

We can meditate at any time of day.

But I don't want to sleep in the middle of the day,

Exclaimed Kelty,

Not liking the sound of that at all,

Grandma explained.

Meditation has different effects on us depending on when we do it and what we are doing it for.

We can do meditation to calm ourselves if we feel stressed at any time.

Meditation can invigorate us first thing in the morning as we start our day or calm us as it helps us sleep at night by pushing those unnecessary thoughts to one side to allow us to sleep.

Kelty yawned.

Oh,

I like the thought of it helping me to sleep at night,

She said.

Would you like to give it a try now and see how you feel afterwards,

Asked Grandma.

Sometimes it's more helpful to try something new rather than just talking about it.

Okay,

Agreed Kelty.

I think that's a good idea.

Now,

Is it best for me to stay sitting up or should I lie down?

Whichever you are most comfortable with,

Said Grandma.

Most often when we lie down and do a meditation we are more likely to fall asleep.

I'd like to take a little nap,

Said Kelty,

Moving over to the sofa and making herself comfortable there.

Grandma smiled as Kelty laid her head on a cushion and wiggled her body into a comfortable position.

I'm ready Grandma,

She said.

Okay,

Grandma said.

Grandma softened the tone of her voice as she began.

Let's begin by you closing your eyes as you listen to my words.

Kelty's eyes closed and Grandma began the guided meditation.

Take a deep breath in and allow your body to relax as you breathe out and another deep breath in and slowly breathe out.

Now return to your normal breathing,

In and out,

In and out.

Now in your mind's eye bring your attention to your eyelids,

Relax your eyelids.

Now notice any tension around your jaw and relax your jaw.

Now move your thoughts to your shoulders,

Relax your shoulders.

Now your arms,

Relax your arms.

Now relax your stomach and finally relax your legs.

Feel your whole body relaxed as you breathe nice and steadily.

Grandma stopped talking as she realised Kelty had fallen fast asleep.

She picked up the tray of dirty dishes and went quietly into the kitchen.

An hour later Kelty woke up.

Grandma was sitting in her chair reading a book when Kelty stirred.

Hello sleepyhead,

Said Grandma closing her book and placing it on the coffee table in front of her.

How are you feeling?

Kelty sat up and stretched her arms into the air.

I feel great,

She said happily.

That meditation really helped me.

Grandma smiled.

It certainly seemed to,

She said.

But how can I do that myself when you won't be around to talk to me?

Kelty asked.

Well there are a number of ways you can do meditation for yourself when you are in bed,

Explained Grandma.

One way is to simply focus on your breathing.

As you breathe in and out you count,

Either from one upwards or 100 downwards and if other thoughts come into your mind you just acknowledge them and then continue counting.

Oh I like that idea,

Said Kelty.

Or you can just breathe,

Suggested Grandma.

You breathe in slowly,

Hold the breath and then breathe out slowly.

You can do that to numbers such as breathe in for a count of four,

Hold for a count of four and breathe out for a count of four and keep repeating this over and over,

Pushing unnecessary thoughts away until you feel ready to sleep.

Oh that's an easy one to remember,

Said Kelty,

Excited to try these techniques?

Yes it is,

Agreed Grandma.

It's one I use regularly.

You can also use this breathing technique a few times around when you are feeling stressed or worried about something in the daytime.

It won't send you to sleep then but it will help to bring your focus into the present moment and take your mind from your worries.

Will meditation help me if there is a thunderstorm?

Asked Kelty,

Remembering how scared she had felt the last time it rained heavily.

Oh yes,

Said Grandma.

Meditation helps to switch off our mind to any distractions which is stopping us from relaxing and getting to sleep.

As we focus on our breathing or whichever technique we choose to use,

We should eventually fall asleep.

Eager to learn more,

Kelty asked,

What's another meditation I can do?

Grandma thought for a moment and then said,

A good one is when we scan our body with our mind.

Oh similar to what we done earlier before I fell asleep,

Kelty remembered.

Yes that's right,

Said Grandma,

Happy that her granddaughter was paying attention.

After you get comfy in your bed,

Begin by taking a few deep breaths to calm your mind and body,

Then starting either at your head or feet,

You tense and then relax each part of your body in turn.

When I do this one,

I very rarely get halfway around my body before I am fast asleep.

Oh I like that one too,

Said Kelty happily and it's also an easy one to remember.

Meditation isn't as difficult as I thought it would be.

It really is quite simple,

Said Grandma.

Lots of people don't try meditation as they think they have to sit in silence for a long time,

But meditation can be done in so many ways.

It's all about finding what works best for you.

I like the breathing ones,

Said Kelty.

Focusing on our breathing is one anybody can do at any time,

Said Grandma.

Just by closing our eyes and breathing in and out deeply a few times has a very calming effect on our body.

What other ways can we meditate,

Asked Kelty,

Really fascinated by this new subject?

Daydreaming is a sort of meditation,

Said Grandma.

When we allow ourselves to daydream about things we want to do in life,

Almost as if it is really happening,

Not worrying about things but dreaming nice thoughts,

We become in a meditative state of peace and relaxation.

Listening to a story can be a form of meditation or the sound of a clock ticking.

Some people find listening to a thunderstorm calming and even the rain as it pitter-patters on the window pane.

Anything which takes our mind away from worry and calms us is a form of meditation.

When our mind is calm,

We can concentrate and do our best work,

Kelty yawned.

Oh sorry Grandma,

This really is interesting but I think I should go home and do my homework before I fall asleep again.

Even talking about meditation is making me feel calm and relaxed.

Yes,

It has that effect,

Agreed Grandma,

As they walked to the front door.

Give meditation a try tonight sweetheart,

I'm sure you won't have any trouble falling asleep from now on.

Thank you Grandma,

Said Kelty as they hugged each other.

I'll see you soon,

Bye.

Grandma closed the front door and went back to her chair in the lounge.

She felt so happy that she was able to share meditation with her granddaughter,

As it really was a valuable tool for any person,

No matter their age.

Thank you for listening to my story,

I hope you enjoyed it.

Before you go I'd like to ask you a question.

Have you ever tried meditation?

If you have,

What type of meditation do you enjoy doing and what do you use it for?

Thanks again for listening and come back soon to hear another story from Grandma.

Bye for now.

Reviews

I do it sometimes yoga

I love 💕 it was so good 😊 I use meditation 🧘‍♀️ to help me to get to sleep 😴 and I like the breathing meditation’s

Yes 👍 i have, I did a body scan to help me get to sleep 💤. Thank you 🙏 so much for making these stories I sure will use those techniques in the future. How old are your granddaughters, Kelci and Tia?

P.s. which one is 14 and which one is 12?

Yes the one that I find on this app and I use it for sleep 😘😘💤💤 good night

Yes I meditate I do gided at night with my dog ♡☆ how old is kelti ty love ya××
💅

Ash/Aubrey💖

Yes I do use meditation and I use yours ! You are so good with your stories I love them so much and I love your work!

- you new biggest fan Brooklyn

Awesomeness and I loved it 😍 😎😎😎😎😎😀😀🤓😝🤜🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤩🤪😍🤨😙😇😁😁👍🏻😜😜😝😝😝🤪🤪🤪🤪