The waterfall.
First,
Before we start the story,
Let's get comfortable.
Make sure you're lying comfortably,
Maybe in your bed or somewhere else where you're really comfortable.
Or you could sit if you prefer sitting.
Let's start by feeling the body and taking a few deeper breaths.
Breathing in deeply and out fully.
Noticing how your chest or belly or maybe both are moving with your breathing.
Breathing in and out.
Breathing in and out.
When you're ready,
Slowly close your eyes.
Let me take you on a little journey in New Zealand.
That's where I live now and this story is based on my own experience when I went out hiking.
So in the middle of summer in New Zealand,
Zoe and her best friend Emily drive high up into the mountains through a beautiful green lush ancient forest.
They are going hiking today.
The road is windy and it is still early in the morning with the Sun just rising,
Coloring the sky in orange,
Yellow and red behind the massive mountain range.
It is so picturesque and easy to stay present with such beauty.
Zoe takes a deep breath,
Feeling grateful for the great start to their weekend hiking adventure.
She can sense that Emily is enjoying it too.
Emily is sitting next to her with a smile on her face.
When they arrive at the car park,
They take a moment to get ready for their hike.
They inhale the fresh mountain air and take in all the scenery in front of them.
They check their backpacks one last time and then set out on their path.
Their hike will take them through a valley with a greenish blue river that is so clear you can see the rocks on the bottom of the river.
Limestone cliffs line the valley on both sides,
Creating a feeling of serenity and safety.
They stop briefly enjoying the view and take a few deep breaths again,
Feeling so grateful to be here.
It's a special place.
They love hearing all the bird songs.
Everything seems to be so alive and vibrant.
Waking up to a bright new day.
A twittering sound to Zoe's left alerts her to the presence of a little feathered friend following them along the path.
To Zoe's delight,
It is a fan tail with beautiful tail feathers like a fan.
She feels connected with the wonderful nature surrounding them.
Zoe and Emily keep on walking,
Staying focused and in the moment,
Aware that tree roots are sticking out along with the occasional large rock they must step over.
Eventually they reach a giant native cowrie tree and take a short break,
Taking off their backpacks.
They sit down,
Leaning their backs against the massive old tree.
Zoe can feel its energy and how it makes her feel grounded,
Filling her with a sense of calm.
She closes her eyes and feels as if she and the cowrie are one,
Connected in a mysterious way.
After a while,
Emily suggests walking on.
Further into their hike,
Zoe and Emily find their path blocked by another big tree.
It had fallen over in the recent storm.
The pair decided to wade through the river.
As they get down to the edge of the water,
They can see that it sparkles like little diamonds in the sun.
They take off their shoes and fold up their pants,
Making their way through the cold,
Refreshing water.
The girls carefully balance over the stones in the riverbed and duck beneath some low-hanging tree branches.
It is so much fun to take this little detour.
Then they continue on the path,
Enjoying all the green ferns and unique this place is with its comforting and relaxing energy.
At lunchtime,
The sun is shining brightly in the blue sky and it's getting warm.
They decide to take a longer break,
Having found a sandy flat beside a swimming hole,
Surrounded by a ring of moss-covered boulders.
It's inviting them to cool down.
Zoe takes a deep breath and dives into the crystal-clear water.
It's refreshing and beautiful,
Making her feel alive.
The view from here is stunning,
Reminding her how lucky they are to be here.
When Zoe emerges from the water,
She feels a gentle breeze and the warm sun kissing her skin.
She pulls herself up onto a giant boulder to dry herself in the warm sunlight.
As she lies there,
She's breathing in and out with the natural rhythm of nature.
This is so relaxing and she is enjoying this little lunchtime break.
After they had a peaceful rest and dried off,
The two have some lunch and enjoy their sandwiches,
Which taste extra delicious today.
And then it's time to move on and hike further upstream.
Suddenly they hear a powerful and soothing sound and as they come around the bend,
They can see what is causing it.
A huge waterfall.
It rises high above them,
Higher than the tallest trees,
With a few wet ferns clinging to the steep rock slope.
Zoe admires the amazing rainbow glowing in the midst of the waterfall.
On the right side of the waterfall is a narrow path that leads behind it.
Zoe is curious and goes to explore.
She's pleasantly surprised to see a little cave behind the waterfall.
As Zoe gets to the cave,
She notices how lovely and fresh it is.
Sitting down on a big rock is so peaceful,
Enjoying the serene space and the sound of the waterfall.
She closes her eyes and notices how relaxing it is here.
It feels like a weight is dropping off her shoulders.
It is easy to stay present and to let go of any worries.
It feels like the waterfall is taking away her thoughts,
Stress and worries.
That night,
Zoe is reflecting on the day.
She is lying in bed with her window open,
Listening to the gentle music of the night.
The day had been beautiful,
Like diving into the wonder and joy of life.
She knows she will have the best sleep tonight and dream the sweetest dreams.
This is the end of this little story and I hope you enjoyed it.
And now continue to breathe deeply and out slowly,
Relaxing more and more with each exhale.
Breathing in and out.
Good night my friend.
Let yourself drift off into a restful sleep.
Slowly let all your thoughts and worries go,
Like a beautiful waterfall washing them away.
Take care until we meet again.
Good night.
