Once upon a time, in a quiet valley surrounded by tall mountains, lived a big dinosaur named Zen. Unlike the other dinosaurs, Zen was never in a rush. He spent his days enjoying the warmth of the sun, the sound of the wind, and the softness of the grass beneath his feet. But what made Zen truly special was his secret: every morning, before the sun rose, he would sit on a smooth rock, close his eyes, and breathe deeply.
One afternoon, a young and restless dinosaur named Rocco arrived in the valley. Rocco was full of energy. He ran, jumped, and roared as loud as he could. He never stopped moving, and his mind never stopped racing.
— Why are you just sitting there doing nothing? — Rocco asked, puzzled.
Zen opened one eye and smiled.
— I am meditating — he said calmly.
— Meditating? That sounds boring! I have too much energy for that! — Rocco laughed.
Zen chuckled.
— Maybe that’s why you need it the most.
Rocco didn’t understand, but he had no time to think about it. He ran off to explore, play, and make noise. But that night, when the valley was quiet, Rocco couldn’t sleep. His thoughts were bouncing inside his head like tiny jumping bugs. He tossed and turned, feeling more restless than ever.
The next morning, with tired eyes, he found Zen sitting on his rock as usual.
— Okay, maybe I’ll try — Rocco said, yawning. — But just for a minute!
Zen nodded.
— Sit with me. Close your eyes. Breathe in… and breathe out.
Rocco sighed but followed along.
— My mind is too noisy! I don’t think this is working! — he complained.
Zen smiled.
— That’s normal. Imagine your thoughts are like leaves floating down a river. Just watch them pass without chasing them.
Rocco tried again. He pictured his thoughts as little leaves drifting away. At first, they moved too fast. But slowly, they floated gently. His body felt lighter. His mind felt quieter.
— Whoa… that was strange. I feel… different — Rocco admitted.
— Meditation is like a secret power. The more you practice, the stronger your mind becomes — Zen explained.
Curious, Rocco joined Zen every morning. At first, it was hard. Some days he got distracted. Other days, he felt impatient. But Zen reminded him that patience was part of the practice. Little by little, Rocco learned to enjoy the stillness.
One day, after meditating, Rocco noticed something amazing. The wind felt softer. The colors of the trees looked brighter. The sounds of the valley were clearer.
— Everything feels… better — Rocco said in wonder.
Zen nodded.
— When your mind is calm, you see the world more clearly.
From that day on, Rocco kept meditating. He still ran and played, but now he also knew how to be still.
The restless dinosaur had discovered the secret of calm, and he would never forget it.
If you liked the story of The Good Dinosaur, we invite you to share our bedtime stories with your children. They will learn valuable lessons and foster a love for reading.
