A Safe Space 😌: a children’s meditation and story

0:13 [SPEAKER_00]: Hello, Away Islanders! [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, we're so glad you're here. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's see if you have everything you want to be calm on Away Island. [SPEAKER_00]: Are the lights in your room dim or off? [SPEAKER_00]: Do you have your favorite blanket or listening, buddy? [SPEAKER_00]: Before we begin our story, let's relax.

0:40 [SPEAKER_00]: Breathe in through your nose, filling up your lungs, and then out through your mouth. [SPEAKER_00]: Imagineing you are breathing fire, like a dragon. [SPEAKER_00]: Ready? [SPEAKER_00]: Deep breath in and out. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew.

1:02 [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [UNKNOWN]: Whew. [SPEAKER_00]: Great job. [SPEAKER_00]: Today, let's imagine a small pool of soothing water. [SPEAKER_00]: This is all pretend and you are very safe. [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine the sun sparkling on the water as you step into the pool and sit down in the clear water.

1:30 [SPEAKER_00]: The warm water hugs you as you lie back in the pool. [SPEAKER_00]: Now, let's take another deep dragon breath, in and out. [UNKNOWN]: Ah! [SPEAKER_00]: First, let's think about your feet. [SPEAKER_00]: Picture them floating as the water slips and slides between your toes. [SPEAKER_00]: Next, focus on your legs.

2:06 [SPEAKER_00]: Imagine them gently swaying in the water, back and forth, back and forth. [SPEAKER_00]: Your hands feel relaxed in the water, too. [SPEAKER_00]: Open your fingers as you imagine the water residing your hands and fingers. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's take one more deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Great job, everyone.

2:52 [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you're tucked in nice and cozy. [SPEAKER_00]: I think we're ready to begin our story. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's be calm, unaway island. [SPEAKER_00]: Our story today is a safe space. [SPEAKER_00]: It was a gray and cloudy day, unaway island. [SPEAKER_00]: With curious eyes, Avi Aksawadal looked out at what he could see of the world from within the big van where his travel tank was placed.

3:48 [SPEAKER_00]: He swam around slowly in the little tank, as the van rocked gently on the roadbed. [SPEAKER_00]: Today, Avi was being driven to the Awe Island Animal Shelter. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi had never been to the Animal Shelter before, and had never met any of the animals there. [SPEAKER_00]: He felt a little nervous.

4:17 [SPEAKER_00]: What if the other animals thought that Avie was strange? [SPEAKER_00]: When the van finally arrived at the shelter, the driver brought Avie inside. [SPEAKER_00]: The door opened and the breastbell hanging above the door ranks sweetly above Avie's head. [SPEAKER_00]: As his tank was carried in.

4:39 [SPEAKER_00]: Ding ding! [SPEAKER_00]: Avie was placed on a counter in his travel tank. [SPEAKER_00]: He swam around in circles while the humans talked. [SPEAKER_00]: Avie couldn't really understand what they were saying, because they were speaking so quietly. [SPEAKER_00]: So he didn't pay too much attention.

5:01 [SPEAKER_00]: But then, Avie heard someone speaking near him. [SPEAKER_00]: Hey there, the voice said in a cheerful tone. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi turned around to see a big green lizard with a huge tail and long claws. [SPEAKER_00]: The lizard was sitting inside a tank too, basking in the light of a nice warm heat lamp.

5:30 [SPEAKER_00]: You look a little scared, is everything okay? [SPEAKER_00]: The lizard asked, [SPEAKER_00]: But he wasn't sure what to say or do. [SPEAKER_00]: The lizard was so much bigger than the little Axel had left her home. [SPEAKER_00]: Then the lizard moved closer to the glass of his own tank and placed a claw on the glass.

5:57 [SPEAKER_00]: The lizard spoke again. [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, where are my manners? [SPEAKER_00]: My name is Larry. [SPEAKER_00]: The lizard said, [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to be afraid of me, or anyone else at the shelter. [SPEAKER_00]: Everyone here is very kind. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, said Avi quietly.

6:21 [SPEAKER_00]: But I am feeling afraid. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry smiled and replied, whenever I get scared or feel uncomfortable about anything, [SPEAKER_00]: I breathe in deeply, filling my lungs with air, and then breathe out slowly. [SPEAKER_00]: Just like a dragon. [SPEAKER_00]: Here, I'll demonstrate.

6:52 [SPEAKER_00]: Mary took a deep dragon breath, in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: And out. [SPEAKER_00]: And out. [SPEAKER_00]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [UNKNOWN]: And out. [SPEAKER_00]: And out. [SPEAKER_00]: And out.

7:08 [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, I am a big closer to the edge of his tank. [SPEAKER_00]: He was feeling a little less nervous now, and a little bit curious. [SPEAKER_00]: Let's take a dragon breath together. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry suggested. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi nodded in agreement. [SPEAKER_00]: At the same time, Larry and Avi took a deep dragon breath in and out.

7:45 [SPEAKER_00]: Abby felt his body relaxed. [SPEAKER_00]: His heart was no longer racing around in his chest. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry smiled widely at him. [SPEAKER_00]: Great job, Larry said. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for helping me, said Abby. [SPEAKER_00]: I do feel better. [SPEAKER_00]: Oh, and by the way, my name is Abby.

8:10 [SPEAKER_00]: He added, [SPEAKER_00]: Nice to meet you, Avie. [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the Away Island Animal Shelter. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry said, tell me about yourself. [SPEAKER_00]: Are you some kind of iguana, like me? [SPEAKER_00]: He asked, no. [SPEAKER_00]: Actually, I'm an axelotto, Avie explained.

8:34 [SPEAKER_00]: That means I'm a special kind of salamander that has gills and lamps in water. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry and Avie talked for a little while, until Avie heard a door open. [SPEAKER_00]: A woman in a white coat and glasses entered the room, holding a brown clipboard with a white piece of paper on it.

8:57 [SPEAKER_00]: Larry noticed that Avie started looking nervous again, as the little axelottle backed up toward the opposite end of his tank, away from the strange new woman. [SPEAKER_00]: Don't worry, Avi. [SPEAKER_00]: Larry reassured his new friend. [SPEAKER_00]: That's Dr. Bowsky. [SPEAKER_00]: She's going to take great care of you.

9:22 [SPEAKER_00]: Dr. Bowsky? [SPEAKER_00]: Avi asked, what does she do here? [SPEAKER_00]: She makes sure you're nice and healthy, and that you're getting the right kind of food, and that you have a clean and safe tank. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi nodded in understanding Dr. Bowsky walked up to the counter where Avi and Larry's tanks were placed.

9:48 [SPEAKER_00]: She looked at Avi then at her chart again. [SPEAKER_00]: Dr. Bowsky pushed up her glasses and smiled at the little axel panel. [SPEAKER_00]: Well, look at you. [SPEAKER_00]: Pink gills, blue eyes, white skin. [SPEAKER_00]: You're a healthy little amphibian, aren't you? [SPEAKER_00]: Dr. Bowski said she wrote a few things down on her sheet.

10:15 [SPEAKER_00]: Abby started to swim around his tank cautiously. [SPEAKER_00]: Still a little unsure about meeting all these new faces and being in such a new place. [SPEAKER_00]: But Avi remembered what Larry said, and he focused on his breathing. [SPEAKER_00]: From time to time, he took another deep, tracking breath in and out.

10:45 [SPEAKER_00]: And let himself float around the tank. [SPEAKER_00]: Dr. Bowsky seemed very kind. [SPEAKER_00]: She carefully observed Avie, so Avie carefully observed her in return. [SPEAKER_00]: Finally, Dr. Bowsky put a small treat in Avie's tank. [SPEAKER_00]: It was a yummy snack. [SPEAKER_00]: Then, Dr. Bowsky made a few more notes on her sheet, making sure she didn't miss anything, about the shelter's new addition.

11:16 [SPEAKER_00]: See, you're all done already, said Larry. [SPEAKER_00]: And you did a great job. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you, Larry. [SPEAKER_00]: Abbey said, I took more deep dragon breaths. [SPEAKER_00]: Just like you said, they really helped me to calm down. [SPEAKER_00]: Abbey felt very grateful. [SPEAKER_00]: But Larry was there to support him.

11:40 [SPEAKER_00]: Even though they had just met today, Larry's immediate kindness helped keep Abby calm and made him feel welcome at the shelter. [SPEAKER_00]: Abby started to feel like Larry was a friend and that he would be safe around the big lizard. [SPEAKER_00]: When Dr. Bowsky finished writing all the important things on the chart, she quickly moved Abby from his small travel tank into a nice big one.

12:09 [SPEAKER_00]: almost before he knew it, plop! [SPEAKER_00]: He was safe in his new tank. [SPEAKER_00]: Then she washed her hands carefully before moving Larry back to his other tank, where he could sit on his favorite tree branch. [SPEAKER_00]: Ivy looked around his new tank. [SPEAKER_00]: It was much bigger than his travel tank.

12:37 [SPEAKER_00]: He would need lots of room to swim around. [SPEAKER_00]: This tank would be perfect. [SPEAKER_00]: As Avi looked around, he noticed there was even a small castle in the corner of the tank, where Avi could relax. [SPEAKER_00]: Do you like your new home? [SPEAKER_00]: Larry asked hopefully as he watched Avi explore?

13:01 [SPEAKER_00]: Oh yes, Avi exclaimed with a big smile. [SPEAKER_00]: He swam around in circles, causing some of the sand to kick up and make a fun little whirlpool. [SPEAKER_00]: Ivy quickly swam back and forth from one end of his tank to the other, wanting to see how fast he could swim in his new home.

13:25 [SPEAKER_00]: Ivy went so fast that he could still see trailing bubbles behind him. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi played in his take for quite a long time. [SPEAKER_00]: After a while though, he felt his eyes get a bit heavy. [SPEAKER_00]: It had been a very busy and long day so far. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi drifted lower and lower in the water before ducking into his new castle.

14:06 [SPEAKER_00]: is little feet gently touch the sand in the bottom of the castle, which helped Abby feel very calm and comfortable. [SPEAKER_00]: Abby let out a contented sigh that turned into a big yaw aww aww. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for everything, Larry. [SPEAKER_00]: Abby called out. [SPEAKER_00]: Now if you'll excuse me, I think I need to take a [SPEAKER_00]: Of course, Reply Larry, you've had an exciting day, enjoy your rest.

14:46 [SPEAKER_00]: Abby snuggled into the sand in his lovely new castle. [SPEAKER_00]: He had never had such a cozy nabbing place before. [SPEAKER_00]: After a big stir at Abby tucked his feet underneath himself, he felt safe and warm [SPEAKER_00]: Then I'd be reflected on the wonderful day, and all the things he had to be grateful for.

15:16 [SPEAKER_00]: Avi was grateful that he had arrived at the Awe Island Animal Shelter safely. [SPEAKER_00]: Remembering what Larry had taught him. [SPEAKER_00]: Avi took a deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: Abby was also grateful for Dr. Bowsky, who was so kind to him, and took such good care of him today.

15:48 [SPEAKER_00]: Abby took another deep dragon breath in and out. [SPEAKER_00]: His eyes fluttered shut. [SPEAKER_00]: And finally, Avie was grateful to Larry for being so kind and welcoming and for teaching Arby had to take a deep dragon breath to calm himself down whenever he felt anxious or upset. [SPEAKER_00]: Avie took one more deep dragon breath in and out.

16:35 [SPEAKER_00]: An avi fall asleep in his little caffle, dreaming about his new friend Larry, and all the fun they would have at the Away Island shelter together. [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for joining us to become an Away Island. [SPEAKER_00]: See you next time.