EN7Story preview
Breathe and Smile
Jey stomped into the playground, his fists clenched tight. Someone had knocked over his science project that morning, and now he felt like a volcano ready to explode. His face was red, and his heart pounded like a drum in his chest.
Maya noticed her friend looking upset and walked over quietly. "Hey Jey, want to try something that helps me when I'm really angry?" she asked gently. Jey wanted to yell, but something in Maya's calm voice made him pause.
"Follow me to the quiet corner," Maya said, leading him to a shaded spot under the big oak tree. She sat down cross-legged and patted the ground beside her. Jey plopped down with a huff, still feeling the anger buzzing inside him like angry bees.
"Close your eyes and breathe with me," Maya instructed softly. "Breathe in slowly through your nose... one, two, three, four. Now breathe out through your mouth... one, two, three, four, five, six." Jey tried it, though his breathing was shaky at first.
As they breathed together, Maya said, "Imagine your anger is like red storm clouds. With each breath out, picture the clouds slowly drifting away into the sky." Jey squeezed his eyes tighter and tried to picture it. Slowly, breath by breath, he imagined the red clouds floating away.
After a few minutes, Jey's shoulders began to relax. His fists unclenched, and his heartbeat slowed down. The angry buzzing feeling started to fade, replaced by a sense of calm he hadn't expected.
"How do you feel now?" Maya asked, opening her eyes. Jey opened his too and was surprised to find he could actually think clearly. "Better," he admitted. "I'm still upset about my project, but I don't feel like exploding anymore."
Maya smiled warmly. "That's the magic of breathing and meditation. It doesn't make the problem go away, but it helps you handle it better." Jey nodded, grateful for his friend's help.
Together, they went to talk to the teacher about the broken project. Because Jey was calm, he could explain what happened without yelling. The teacher understood and gave him extra time to rebuild it.
From that day on, whenever Jey felt anger rising inside him, he remembered the breathing exercise. He pictured those red storm clouds drifting away, and it always helped him find his calm. And Maya was always there, ready to sit under the oak tree with him whenever he needed a friend.
