Even monsters get scared sometimes,
It's true.
If you don't believe me,
Let me tell the story of Melanie Monster to you.
Melanie,
Like all monsters from the town of Monsterville,
Dreams of swimming in the swamp,
Especially on hot summer days.
The swamp is a magnificent place for the monsters of Monsterville to avoid the heat from the sun's blazing hot rays.
Melanie Monster wants to enjoy swimming in the water with her friends at Stump Hollow Swamp,
But she's too scared to try.
Melanie's mother,
Miss Monster,
Tried to teach Melanie to swim,
But Melanie would become overwhelmed and begin to cry.
Miss Monster told Melanie it's okay if she was not ready yet.
They would come back every day until she was ready to jump in the swamp and get muddy and wet.
Miss Monster took Melanie to the swamp each day for over a year.
However,
Melanie was still not ready to swim.
She continued to struggle with her anxiety and fear.
Miss Monster kept reassuring Melanie that she would one day overcome her fear of swimming and she would be able to enjoy the swamp with her monster friends.
One day she would relax in the cool muddy water in the summer and after school on the weekends.
Miss Monster taught Melanie to take deep breaths and relax,
Helping her deal with her anxiety and fear.
Melanie now knows many ways to cope when she feels her anxiety is near.
Melanie listened to her mom's words and believed them to be true.
She believed her mom because Miss Monster always knew the answers.
She always taught Melanie the right things to do.
After almost two years,
Melanie finally felt that she was ready to face her fear.
Her heart began to race as she knew her time to swim in the swamp was near.
Miss Monster told Melanie to close her eyes and count to five.
When she was ready,
Miss Monster told Melanie to open her eyes and enter the swamp with a great big dive.
Miss Monster assured Melanie that she would be there to catch her in the water when she was ready to jump in.
Miss Monster held her hands out wide and her face was fixed with a gleaming grin.
Melanie the monster was ready.
She had no more fear of the muddy water.
She dove right into the stump hollow swamp and into the awaiting arms of Miss Monster who was so proud of her courageous daughter.
Over the next few weeks,
Miss Monster taught Melanie all the swimming lessons that she would need.
Melanie was no longer filled with anxiety.
She was excited to swim and swim she did indeed.
Melanie the monster is now one of the best swimmers in Monsterville.
She spends her summers as stump hollow swamps lifeguard and teaches all the little monsters how to swim with confidence and skill.
So whenever you are feeling scared or afraid,
Practice patience and do what Miss Monster taught Melanie to do.
Take time for some deep breaths and you will be able to overcome any fears that you are going through.
