A Bedtime Story
Long ago, in a small village tucked between green hills and whispering streams, there lived a gentle boy named Hiro.
The village slept early. Lanterns glowed like fireflies. Crickets sang their evening songs. Each night, the world seemed to sigh and rest.
But Hiro often stayed awake a little longer.
He lay beneath his blanket listening to the river outside his window. The water never hurried. It flowed calmly, as if it knew exactly where it was going. Hiro wondered about that. He wondered about many things—but his thoughts were not heavy. They were soft, like clouds drifting through the sky.
High above the village stood a quiet mountain. Its top was hidden in mist, and people said a wise old master lived there, listening to the wind and the trees.
One day, with a brave and hopeful heart, Hiro climbed the mountain.
The path was slow and winding. Birds watched him from the branches. The breeze cooled his warm cheeks. When his legs grew tired, Hiro rested. When his thoughts grew busy, he took a deep breath and kept going.
At the very top, Hiro found a small wooden house resting peacefully among tall pine trees. A kind old master greeted him with a gentle smile.
Inside, the room was simple and calm. The master poured tea into a cup and placed it in front of Hiro.
The tea filled the cup… and kept filling… until it spilled over the edge.
“Oh,” Hiro whispered, surprised. “The cup is full.”
The master smiled kindly. “Yes,” he said softly. “And when a cup is full, it cannot hold anything new.”
Hiro nodded, even though he did not fully understand. Something warm and peaceful settled in his chest.
Hiro stayed with the master for a little while. He learned how to sit quietly. How to listen to the wind. How to let thoughts come and go, like leaves floating down a stream.
When it was time to return home, Hiro felt lighter.
Back in the village, Hiro listened more than he spoke. He smiled gently. He moved slowly and kindly through his days.
At night, when Hiro lay in bed, his mind felt calm and open—like an empty cup, ready for tomorrow.
And as the moon rose over the quiet mountain, Hiro drifted into sleep, knowing that he did not need all the answers right away.
The world would teach him, little by little.
Sleep softly. The mountain is watching. And all is well 🌙✨
Cover Image https://unsplash.com/photos/GcppSsR_RAg