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on linkedin.com/spoken today. Hello,

1:23

it's Eric. Welcome

1:25

to another relaxing episode of

1:28

Listen to Sleep. Tonight,

1:31

we've got another soothing

1:33

bedtime story for you

1:35

that shares the magic

1:37

of the interconnectedness of

1:40

all beings. After

1:42

the story, there's a short

1:45

mindfulness meditation to help

1:47

you drift peacefully off to

1:49

sleep. It

1:51

has been a beautiful week

1:54

up here on the mountain. Summer

1:57

is in full effect. The

2:00

days have been warm, but not

2:02

too warm. And

2:04

Bodhi and Joey and I have

2:07

gotten down to the swimming hole

2:09

pretty much every afternoon to

2:12

cool off. Just

2:15

perfect summer weather. In

2:19

tonight's story, we visit a lush

2:21

enchanted forest where we'll meet a

2:23

curious young Willow named Whisper who

2:25

takes a transformative journey to understand

2:28

the mysteries of the world around them. Along

2:36

the way, Whisper learns valuable lessons

2:38

about mindfulness, interconnectedness,

2:40

and inner strength, ultimately

2:43

helping to restore harmony to the forest.

2:45

If you're able, I would love it if you could support the

2:47

podcast with a monthly or yearly subscription to Listen to Sleep

2:51

Plus. For less than the cost

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of one cup of coffee a month, supporters get access

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to over 450 premium episodes without

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any ads or introductions. And

3:00

the stories are all about the best

3:02

of the best. The

3:06

stories are about the best of the

3:08

best of the best. And the stories

3:10

are about the best of the best.

3:13

Plus, every week you'll

3:15

get the new episodes a day

3:18

earlier. To get

3:20

all of this and help keep the podcast

3:22

going for years to come, just

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click the link in the show

3:27

notes to pledge your support today. Let's

3:46

take a deep breath in and

3:48

out. Just

3:55

letting go of the day, feeling the

3:58

weight of the day. tree

22:00

the young willow had

22:02

ever seen. Its

22:05

trunk was wider than

22:07

a thousand of whispers

22:09

put together, and

22:12

its branches reached so high

22:15

they seemed to touch the

22:17

clouds. This,

22:21

whisper realized with awe, must

22:24

be the ancient fur.

22:29

As whisper approached, a

22:32

deep rumbling voice emanated

22:34

from the great tree.

22:38

Welcome young one, I've

22:41

been expecting you. Whispers

22:46

leaves rustled with surprise.

22:50

You have? But how

22:53

did you know I was coming? The

22:57

ancient fur's branches swayed

23:00

gently, as if chuckling.

23:05

The forest speaks in

23:07

many ways, little willow.

23:11

The wind carried whispers of

23:13

your journey, and

23:16

the earth felt your footsteps

23:19

long before you arrived. Gathering

23:25

courage, whisper spoke

23:28

up. Great

23:31

fur, I've

23:33

come to learn about the

23:35

changes happening in our forest.

23:39

How can I help maintain

23:41

the balance? The

23:45

old tree was silent for a

23:47

moment, its

23:49

needles rustling thoughtfully. A

23:54

young whisper, your

23:57

heart is in the right

23:59

place. place, but

24:02

before you can help the

24:04

forest, you

24:07

must first understand

24:09

yourself and

24:12

your connection to

24:14

all living things." Whispers

24:20

branches drooped slightly in

24:23

confusion. But

24:27

how do I do that? Close

24:31

your eyes, the

24:34

ancient fur instructed gently.

24:38

Feel your roots reaching

24:40

deep into the earth.

24:45

Sense the nutrients flowing

24:47

through you, from

24:50

the tiniest root to

24:53

the highest leaf. This

24:58

is your life force, your

25:02

connection to the earth. Whisper

25:06

did as instructed, focusing

25:09

on the sensation of being

25:12

rooted and nourished by the

25:14

soil. Now,

25:18

the fur continued, feel

25:20

the air around you. The

25:24

breeze that rustles your

25:26

leaves is the

25:29

same breeze that

25:31

touches every other tree,

25:34

plant, and creature

25:36

in this forest. We

25:40

are all connected by

25:42

the very air we

25:45

breathe. As

25:48

whisper concentrated, a sense

25:51

of unity with the forest

25:54

began to grow within

25:56

the young willow's heart. Lastly,

26:02

said the fur, listen

26:07

not just with your

26:09

leaves, but

26:11

with every fiber of

26:13

your being. Listen

26:17

to the song of

26:19

the forest. Ever

26:24

strained to hear, at

26:26

first catching only the usual

26:29

forest sounds, birds

26:33

chirping, leaves

26:35

rustling. But

26:38

as the sapling listened more

26:40

deeply, a new

26:43

awareness began to dawn.

26:47

There was a rhythm to

26:49

these sounds, a

26:52

harmonious melody that

26:55

pulsed through the entire

26:57

forest. This

27:01

is the heartbeat of

27:03

our home, the

27:06

ancient fur explained. Every

27:10

living thing plays

27:12

a part in this grand

27:15

symphony. When

27:19

we are in balance, the

27:21

song is beautiful and

27:24

strong. But

27:27

now there are

27:29

discordant notes creeping in,

27:32

disrupting that harmony. Every

27:38

spur suddenly became filled

27:40

with both understanding and

27:43

concern. What's

27:46

causing this disruption? The

27:50

old fur sighed, a

27:53

sound like wind through a

27:55

hollow log. There

28:00

are many factors, young one.

28:04

Some trees have forgotten how

28:06

to listen to the forest's

28:09

song. Others

28:12

have become too focused

28:15

on their own growth, forgetting

28:19

that we are all interconnected.

28:25

And still others have

28:28

lost hope, their

28:30

spirits weakened by fear

28:32

of the unknown. Whisper

28:38

pondered this information, feeling

28:41

both overwhelmed and

28:44

determined. How

28:47

can I help restore the

28:49

balance? The

28:53

ancient fur's voice was kind

28:56

but firm. You've

28:59

taken the first step

29:01

by learning to listen

29:04

and feeling your connection to

29:06

the whole. Now

29:10

you must continue your journey.

29:14

Face the challenges that lie

29:17

ahead with an open

29:19

heart and a

29:21

mindful spirit. Learn

29:24

from each experience and

29:27

share your wisdom with others.

29:33

As Whisper prepared to leave,

29:36

the old fur offered one

29:38

last piece of advice. Remember

29:43

young willow, true

29:46

strength comes not

29:48

from size or

29:51

age, but from

29:53

understanding and embracing

29:56

your place in

29:58

the forest. Go

30:00

now, and may

30:03

the forest song guide your

30:05

way." With

30:09

a deep feeling of gratitude

30:12

and a new sense of purpose,

30:15

Whisper bid farewell to the

30:17

ancient fur, ready

30:19

to face whatever challenges lay

30:22

ahead on this

30:24

remarkable journey. As

30:30

Whisper ventured forth from the

30:32

ancient fur's clearing, the

30:35

young willow felt a mix

30:38

of excitement and trepidation. The

30:42

forest seemed different now,

30:45

alive with possibilities and

30:49

hidden challenges. The

30:52

sapling's newfound awareness

30:54

of the forest's

30:56

interconnectedness made

30:59

every rustle of leaves and

31:02

every crack of twigs seem

31:05

significant. Before

31:09

long, Whisper came upon

31:11

a part of the forest that

31:14

looked sickly and

31:17

withered. The

31:19

trees here stood unnaturally

31:22

still, their

31:24

leaves dull and

31:26

drooping. The

31:28

ground was dry and

31:31

cracked, and there

31:33

was an eerie silence.

31:37

No birdsong, no

31:39

scurrying of small animals.

31:45

Whisper's leaves trembled with

31:47

concern. What

31:50

has happened here? The

31:53

young willow wondered aloud. A

31:58

weak voice responded. "'Stardling,

32:01

Whisper!' "'It's

32:04

the drought,' croaked

32:06

an old birch tree nearby.

32:09

"'We haven't had rain

32:11

in months, and

32:13

we're all suffering.' Whisper

32:17

looked around, noticing

32:20

how the other trees seemed

32:23

to be withdrawing into

32:25

themselves. The

32:27

branches curled inward, as

32:30

if trying to conserve what

32:32

little moisture they had left.

32:37

Remembering the ancient

32:39

oak's words about

32:41

interconnectedness, Whisper

32:43

realized that this was

32:45

an opportunity to help.

32:49

And how could one small

32:51

willow bring water to

32:54

an entire section of the

32:56

forest? Closing

33:01

its eyes, Whisper

33:03

focused on the feeling

33:05

of roots reaching deep

33:07

down into the earth.

33:11

The sapling searched for any

33:14

trace of moisture, any

33:17

small underground stream

33:20

that might have been overlooked.

33:24

At first there was

33:26

nothing but dry soil. But

33:30

then, faintly,

33:33

Whisper sensed a trickle of

33:36

water far below

33:38

the surface. With

33:41

great effort, Whisper

33:43

began to extend its roots

33:46

deeper and deeper, following

33:50

the faint trail of moisture.

33:54

It was exhausting work,

33:57

and more than once the young

33:59

willow. nearly gave up, but

34:03

the memory of the forest's

34:05

song spurred Whisper

34:07

on. Finally,

34:11

after what seemed like hours,

34:14

Whisper's roots reached the

34:17

underground stream. With

34:20

a surge of joy, the

34:23

sapling began to draw the water

34:26

upward. Everyone,

34:30

Whisper called out to the

34:32

surrounding trees, extend

34:34

your roots towards

34:37

mine. There's water

34:39

down here, but we

34:41

need to work together to

34:43

reach it. Slowly

34:46

at first, then

34:49

with growing enthusiasm,

34:52

the other trees began to

34:54

stretch their roots towards

34:57

Whisper's. As

35:00

they connected, the

35:02

life-giving water began to

35:04

flow through their intertwined

35:07

root systems, spreading

35:10

throughout the parched section

35:12

of the forest. Slowly,

35:18

life began to return.

35:22

Leaves began to perk up,

35:25

birds returned to sing

35:27

in the rejuvenated branches,

35:31

and small animals emerged from

35:34

their hiding places. The

35:37

forest's song, which

35:40

had been muted here, began

35:42

to swell once more.

35:46

The old birch tree's voice

35:49

was stronger now as it

35:51

addressed Whisper. Thank

35:54

you, young one. You've

35:56

reminded us of an important

35:59

lesson. we had

36:01

forgotten that we are

36:03

stronger when we work

36:06

together and share

36:08

our resources. Whisper

36:12

beamed with pride, but

36:15

the effort had taken its toll.

36:19

The sapling felt drained

36:21

and weary. As

36:24

if sensing this, a

36:27

gentle breeze rustled through the

36:30

trees, carrying with

36:32

it the scent of

36:34

distant rain. Rest

36:38

now, the birch tree

36:40

said kindly. You've

36:42

done well, and the

36:45

rains will come soon to finish

36:47

what you've started. Grateful

36:52

for the chance to recover, Whisper

36:55

settled its roots comfortably

36:57

in the now-moist soil

37:00

and enjoyed a peaceful rest.

37:05

The next morning, Whisper

37:07

awoke to the patter

37:09

of raindrops and

37:12

the joyful sounds of a

37:14

forest coming back to

37:16

life. The

37:18

sapling felt refreshed and

37:21

ready to continue the journey.

37:26

As Whisper prepared to move on,

37:29

the trees of the once-parched

37:31

forest rustled their

37:33

leaves in a farewell salute.

37:37

Their gratitude warmed Whisper's

37:39

heart, reinforcing

37:41

the lesson about

37:43

the power of working together

37:46

and staying connected. With

37:49

renewed determination, Whisper

37:52

set off once more, wondering

37:56

what other challenges and

37:58

opportunities to help. might

38:01

lie ahead. The

38:03

young willow hadn't gone far when a

38:05

distressed cry caught its attention. Following

38:13

the sound, whisper came

38:15

upon a small clearing where

38:18

a young deer stood, its leg caught

38:21

in a tangle of

38:23

thorny vines. The

38:26

more the deer struggled, the tighter the vines seemed

38:30

to grip. "'Please

38:33

help me,' the deer

38:36

pleaded, its large brown eyes filled

38:38

with fear and pain." Whisper

38:44

approached cautiously, not

38:46

wanting to frighten the deer further.

38:50

"'It's okay,' the sapling

38:53

said soothingly. "'I'm

38:55

here to help. Try

38:57

to stay still, and I'll see

38:59

what I can do.' Remembering

39:03

the lessons of flexibility

39:05

from Ripple the Otter, Whisper

39:09

began to carefully weave

39:11

its slender branches through

39:14

the thorny vines. It was tricky

39:16

work, requiring patience and gentle

39:18

persistence. The thorns scratched

39:20

at Whisper's bark, but the young

39:23

willow remained focused

39:29

on the task. Gradually, Whisper managed

39:31

to loosen the vines' grip on

39:33

the deer's leg. With

39:38

a final careful movement, the sapling

39:41

lifted the thorny vines

39:43

and the deer's hand.

39:46

The sapling lifted the thorny

39:48

tangle away, freeing

39:50

the grateful animal. "'Thank

39:53

you, kind tree,' the deer said,

39:56

gingerly testing its newly-freezed leg.

40:02

I've learned an important lesson

40:04

about being more aware of

40:06

my surroundings. Whisper

40:09

smiled, leaves

40:12

rustling softly, and

40:15

I've learned that sometimes the

40:18

gentlest touch can overcome

40:21

the toughest obstacles. As

40:26

the deer bounded away, Whisper

40:29

felt a warm glow

40:31

of satisfaction. The

40:34

young willow was beginning

40:36

to understand that

40:39

every challenge was

40:41

also an opportunity

40:43

to learn, grow,

40:46

and make a positive difference

40:48

in the forest. With

40:52

these new experiences and lessons

40:55

tucked safely in its heart,

40:58

Whisper continued on, eager

41:01

to see what the next part

41:04

of the journey would bring. As

41:09

Whisper journeyed on, the

41:12

forest began to thin, giving

41:16

way to a serene meadow. In

41:20

the center of this open

41:22

space stood a majestic

41:25

willow tree, its

41:28

long graceful branches swaying

41:31

gently in the breeze. Something

41:35

about this tree called

41:38

to Whisper, and

41:40

the young sapling felt drawn

41:42

towards it. As

41:46

Whisper approached, the

41:48

elder willow's leaves rustled

41:50

in greeting. Welcome,

41:54

young one, came

41:56

a soft, melodious voice. I

42:00

am Serenity, and

42:03

I've been waiting for you." Whisper

42:07

was surprised. "'You

42:09

have? But

42:11

how did you know I was coming?' Serenity's

42:16

branches swayed, as if

42:19

chuckling softly. The

42:22

wind carries many messages, little

42:25

one. I've

42:27

heard whispers of your journey and

42:30

the lessons you've learned along the way.'

42:35

Feeling a sense of kinship with

42:37

this wise old willow, Whisper

42:40

shared the experiences of the

42:42

journey so far. The

42:45

advice from Ripple the Otter, the

42:49

teachings of the ancient fur, helping

42:52

the drought-stricken trees and

42:56

freeing the trapped deer. Serenity

43:00

listened attentively, its

43:04

leaves rustling thoughtfully. "'You've

43:08

learned much, young Whisper,

43:12

but there is one more

43:14

lesson I can teach you.

43:17

Perhaps the most

43:20

important one of all.'

43:25

Whisper's leaves quivered with

43:27

anticipation. "'What

43:29

is it?' "'The

43:32

art of stillness,'

43:35

Serenity replied. In

43:39

the rush of life and

43:41

the desire to help others, we

43:45

often forget to take

43:47

time for ourselves. True

43:51

wisdom comes not

43:54

just from action, but

43:57

from reflection and

43:59

inner peace.' Whisper

44:03

considered this. The

44:06

young Willow had been so

44:09

focused on the journey and

44:12

helping others that

44:14

there hadn't been much time

44:17

for quiet reflection. Serenity

44:21

continued, Let

44:24

me show you. Close

44:26

your eyes and

44:28

focus on your breath, the

44:32

air moving across your leaves, the

44:36

gentle expansion and

44:39

contraction of your trunk. Whisper

44:43

did as instructed, becoming

44:46

aware of the rhythm of breath that

44:49

had always been there but

44:52

never noticed before. Now,

44:58

Serenity said softly, let

45:02

go of all thoughts about

45:04

the past or the

45:06

future. Simply

45:08

be here, present

45:12

in this moment. Feel

45:15

the earth beneath your

45:17

roots, the

45:20

air around your branches,

45:24

the warmth of the sun on your

45:27

leaves. As

45:31

Whisper practiced this mindfulness,

45:35

a profound sense of calm

45:37

settled over the young Willow,

45:41

the constant chatter of thoughts quieted,

45:45

replaced by a deep awareness

45:48

of the present moment. This

45:53

is meditation, Serenity

45:55

explained, a

45:57

practice of mindfulness that

50:00

simply a home, now

50:02

felt like a living, breathing

50:05

entity that Whisper

50:07

was intrinsically connected to.

50:12

Every rustle of leaves, every

50:15

birdsong, every

50:18

gentle breeze seemed

50:20

to carry deeper

50:23

meaning. The path

50:25

home was not without its

50:27

challenges. Whisper

50:29

encountered a group of young

50:32

saplings arguing over

50:34

sunlight, their branches

50:37

tangled in a competitive

50:39

struggle. Drawing

50:41

upon the lessons learned, Whisper

50:44

approached them calmly. Friends,

50:48

Whisper said softly, there's

50:51

enough sunlight for all

50:54

if we work together. The willow

50:57

then taught them about

50:59

interconnectedness and the importance

51:02

of supporting one another. Slowly

51:05

the saplings began to bend

51:08

their trunks and branches, finding

51:11

a harmonious arrangement where

51:14

each could receive the light they

51:16

needed. As

51:19

Whisper neared the willow grove,

51:22

signs of the changes the

51:24

ancient fur had spoken of

51:27

became more apparent. Some

51:30

trees looked stressed, their

51:33

leaves dulled by worry. Others

51:37

seemed oblivious, focused

51:39

solely on their own growth.

51:44

Finally, Whisper arrived

51:46

at the familiar clearing where the

51:48

journey had begun. The other

51:51

willows rustled in surprise

51:53

at the return of their

51:56

young companion. Whisper

51:58

had grown taller, and

56:00

swaying with the rhythms of the

56:02

forest. Whisper

56:05

looked forward to many more

56:07

years of growth, learning,

56:10

and helping to maintain the

56:13

delicate balance of their

56:15

woodland home. Now,

56:21

as you lie comfortably in your

56:23

bed, let's take

56:26

a moment to reflect on

56:28

Whisper's journey and

56:30

prepare for a peaceful sleep. Let's

56:36

take a few deep breaths.

56:41

As you exhale, just

56:43

feeling yourself sinking deeper

56:46

into the bed, just

56:50

as Whisper's roots sank

56:52

into the nurturing earth. Imagine

56:58

yourself as a young sapling,

57:02

much like Whisper. With

57:05

each breath, picture

57:08

yourself growing taller and

57:10

stronger, your

57:12

branches reaching toward the

57:14

starry sky above. As

57:19

you breathe in, think

57:22

of drawing in wisdom and

57:24

peace from the world around

57:26

you. As

57:30

you breathe out, let

57:32

go of any worries or tension

57:34

from your day, just

57:37

as trees release their leaves

57:39

in autumn. Now,

57:44

bring your attention to the

57:46

sounds around you. Perhaps

57:50

you can hear the gentle

57:52

hum of your home, much

57:56

like the ambient sounds of

57:58

the forest. Or

58:02

maybe there's silence, like

58:06

the quiet moments whisper

58:08

experienced during meditation with

58:11

serenity. Feel

58:15

the comfort of your bed

58:17

supporting you, just

58:20

as the forest floor

58:23

supported whisper throughout the

58:25

journey. Let

58:29

this feeling of support help

58:32

you relax even

58:34

more deeply. As

58:40

you lie here, settle

58:43

your attention on

58:45

your connection to the world around you.

58:50

Like whisper, you're

58:52

a part of something bigger, a

58:55

family, a community, a

58:59

world full of living

59:01

things. Send

59:04

out gentle thoughts of kindness

59:07

to all beings, near

59:11

and far. Now,

59:17

just as whisper learned to

59:19

listen to the forest song,

59:23

see if you can tune in

59:25

to your own inner wisdom. It's

59:29

always there, a

59:31

quiet voice guiding

59:33

you towards peace and

59:36

harmony. And

59:42

as you drift towards sleep,

59:45

imagine yourself in

59:47

a beautiful forest clearing, bathed

59:51

in soft moonlight. The

59:55

trees around you whispering

59:58

gentle lullabies. their

1:00:01

leaves rustling softly in

1:00:04

a calm night breeze. With

1:00:10

each breath, feel

1:00:13

yourself becoming more and

1:00:15

more relaxed. Your

1:00:19

body feels heavy and

1:00:22

comfortable, like

1:00:24

a tree rooted firmly in the

1:00:26

ground. And

1:00:31

remember, like

1:00:33

Whisper, you

1:00:35

have the strength and wisdom

1:00:37

within you to face

1:00:40

any challenge. But

1:00:43

for now, let

1:00:45

all those thoughts gently

1:00:47

drift away like

1:00:50

leaves on a stream. As

1:00:57

you fall asleep, carry

1:00:59

with you the peace of the

1:01:01

forest and the

1:01:04

wisdom of the Whispering Willow. Let

1:01:08

these gentle thoughts guide you

1:01:10

into your dreams, where

1:01:13

you might continue your own

1:01:16

magical journey through

1:01:18

wondrous, peaceful landscapes. Sleep

1:01:24

well, knowing

1:01:26

that you are connected to a

1:01:28

world of beauty and

1:01:30

wonder that is

1:01:32

just waiting for you to explore

1:01:34

in the morning. For now,

1:01:39

rest peacefully, cradled

1:01:42

in the calm embrace of the

1:01:44

night, just

1:01:46

like a young sapling in

1:01:49

a tranquil forest grove named

1:01:53

Whisper. you