Hello,
Little Dreamer and Explorer!
Jumbo This is Reshma from Safari and Soul.
It is the end of the day.
The day is done.
And the forest is putting on its soft night blanket because it's time to rest.
Just like you're going to rest.
Snuggle into your cozy spot,
Maybe lie down.
Put your blanket over you.
And let your body sink down.
You must feel so nice and warm.
You can even close your eyes now.
And with your eyes still closed,
Take a slow breath in through your nose.
Breathe out gently like a breeze through the trees.
Should we do that again?
Breathe in the cool night air.
And out.
With your eyes still closed,
Imagine that you're standing.
In a forest.
And it's just about to be night.
And as you look up into the tallest tree that you can see.
You see two round golden eyes.
Boeing company.
And look at you.
No!
That's Omia.
The African wood owl.
Owls are mostly seen at night because that's when they come out.
On silent wings,
Softer than a whisper,
She flies down and lands on a branch just above your head.
Don't be afraid.
She's here just to tell you.
About what she does.
Olya doesn't say too much.
She listens.
Owls are the best listeners in the whole forest at night.
And tonight she's going to share her secret with you.
Olya turns her head slowly this way.
And that way.
Quiet ears are catching every tiny sound in the forest.
Now she looks at you with her big round eyes as if to say Your turn.
Let's play Olya's listening game.
Keep your eyes closed.
Make your ears as quiet as possible.
And as open as an owl's.
What sound do you hear?
Far away.
Maybe it's a car.
Maybe it's the wind?
Maybe it's dogs barking really far away.
Or maybe it's the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Just listen.
Now listen for a closer sound.
As you breathe in and out,
Can you hear your breathing?
That gentle sound has been with you all day because we breathe all day.
And sometimes we don't even notice.
But all the unnoticed.
Because owls notice everything.
Do you know why Olya listens so carefully?
It isn't just to be clever.
When the little mouse is scared,
Olya hears it.
When the baby birds are calling for their mamas,
Olia hears them too.
Listening is how Olya takes care of her forest home.
When we truly listen to someone,
We're saying,
You are important to me.
And by listening,
We're showing them that.
Olia says that everyone has two ears and one mouth.
So we can listen twice as much as we talk.
She thinks that's the wisest math in the world.
Now for Olya's secret that she wants to share with you.
You can listen with more than your ears.
Put one hand softly on your heart.
And be very still.
And listen inside.
To hear your heart.
Doom doom.
No.
Dum dum.
Dum dum.
That's your heart.
Speaking its quiet language.
So tomorrow when someone talks to you,
A friend,
Or your mama,
Your papa,
Or a family member,
You can listen the owl way.
Still body.
Quiet ears.
And an open heart.
You'll hear not just their words,
But their feelings too.
And that is Olya's gift to you.
The moon is high now and Olia must fly her quiet rounds over the sleeping forest.
She spreads her great soft wings and looks at you one last time,
As if to say,
Good night,
Little listener.
The forest is lucky to have you because you're listening.
Take one more owl breath in through your nose.
And out,
Slow and soft,
And maybe make a noise like an owl.
Let your whole body rest.
Bye.
And ready to sleep.
You listened to the world and you listened to your heart,
Little explorer.
And Olia is so happy,
As am I.
Sleep well,
Little traveler.
And remember tomorrow.
Be a good listener.
Bye for now.
