Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Cozy Canadian Thanksgiving

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hello friends, welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas, and it's a pleasure to have your company at the start of another new week. Tonight we'll be celebrating a peaceful thanksgiving in Canada, enjoying the splendor of a pleasant hike and a heartwarming meal. Our story was written by Kayla and we'll be read by Vanessa. Tonight's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp and we're really grateful for their support. Do you ever feel like your brain is getting in its own way? Like you know what you should do, what's good for you, but you've got some sort of mental

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Starting point is 00:01:48 Visit betterhelp.com-get-sleepy to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelp-h-e-l-p.com-get-sleepy. push, get sleepy. So, let's settle down now and prepare our bodies and minds for a good night's sleep. Take a deep breath in, filling up your lungs. Hold at the top, then exhale gently and feel the way your body sinks into the bed. For the next few moments, I invite you to place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. breath as it moves in and out. And just allow a sense of calm to enter your body with each breath in. It may help to visualize this calming essence as a warming glow. With each deep breath in, you draw in and absorb that calming energy. And as you breathe back out, you release tension and unease, whether it's physical or mental.

Starting point is 00:04:12 The essence of warmth and peace fills you more and more as you continue to breathe cell of your body, and feel the warmth in your chest and stomach where your hands are comfortably rested, connecting with your inner peace. In this restful haven that is your own, you are safe, comfortable, and calm. So see if you can put forth as little effort as possible, as you imagine a relaxing autumn day in Canada. Dory begins. Lucía wakes up to the sweet smell of fall leaves and cold and sunlight streaming through the window. For a moment, she wonders if she's slept in late, But then she remembers she can stay in bed for as long as she wants. It's Thanksgiving, and she has the whole day to relax, spend time with family, enjoy the fall colors, and eat some delicious food.

Starting point is 00:06:27 Lucia leans her pillows against the headboard and sits in bed for a while, reading a book and enjoying the streaks of sunlight warming the blankets on the crisp morning. Breathing in the smells coming from outside, she notices another pleasant fragrance seeping into her room. That of the Thanksgiving meal for this evening. Just beginning to cook in the kitchen downstairs. Pulling on a warm, woolly sweater and thick socks, she leaves her room and pads down to the kitchen. The morning people in her family are already here, preparing the meal and chatting. They've made fresh apple cider and Lucia pours herself a mug.

Starting point is 00:07:40 The warm liquid heats her hands through the ceramic, the mix of apple, cinnamon and cloves soon overpowers the rest of the smells as she takes a sip. The cider is sweet and spicy and warms her from the inside out. She smiles and takes a seat at the table, where her mom has laid out freshly sliced fruit and cheese for breakfast. She's baking bread as well, but it's not quite ready. The rich smell of rising dough fills the kitchen and lucias mouth waters. She takes a bite of sour crab apple and sweet pear, enjoying the bounty of the season. There are so many days when mourning is a rush with school and work to get to,

Starting point is 00:08:51 but today there's nowhere to go. Everyone is exactly where they need to be. where they need to be. Lucia enjoys this time to relax with her family, catching up on things beyond the day to day that they don't always have time to talk about. Her siblings have all come home to their childhood house for the holiday, and one of their aunts and cousins has come to visit as well. While they chat and catch up on life, the wind brushes gently against the window, where occasionally a fallen rat or orange leaf floats by. As the level of cider gets lower in the mug, the rest of the sleeping family finds their way into the kitchen. They pick at the fruit and pour themselves hot mugs of the spiced drink, filling the room

Starting point is 00:10:10 with sounds of pouring, drinking, eating, and good conversation. Soon, the fresh bread is ready. Lucius' mom takes it out of the oven, and the smell gets even stronger, making everyone feel completely relaxed. Lucius gently slices the bread, feeling the crispy crust and soft dough give way to the knife. When she breaks the crust, steam seeps out from the fluffy center. Lucia puts a slice of the bread on her plate and spreads butter on it, watching it mount

Starting point is 00:11:08 into the warm middle. Taking a bite, she slowly chews, letting the feelings of warmth spread from her mouth to the rest of her body. It tastes savory with just a hint of sweetness. It's only on special occasions she gets homemade bread, so she wants to savor every bite of this treat. Energized by the food and conversation and Lucia is excited for all the familiar flavors that she looks forward to all year long. Lucia's dad had been heating a squash in the oven to soften it. Lucia takes it out now and slices the gourd, peeling away the flesh for the sweet meat inside.

Starting point is 00:12:37 She cubes the squash and tosses it in a mixing bowl with olive oil, maple syrup, salt and pepper, and places it on a baking tray for later. Heels carrots, feeling the smoothness of the vegetables under her fingers, and then places them in a separate tray to mix with goat's cheese and more maple syrup, one of her favorite Thanksgiving treats. Once all the food is prepped, everyone spreads out between the kitchen and the living room enjoying the lazy morning to catch up on reading and other projects around the house. While Lucia flips through one of her favorite old books, her aunt and mom work on fixing a broken table leg, and her brother sorts through a box of his childhood toys. Just hearing the gentle chatter and motion of her family all around makes Lucia appreciate

Starting point is 00:14:09 having this day of rest and rejuvenation to spend with the people she loves. The smell of food get even stronger and more tantalizing as everything cooks. Lucia and her sister take the food out of the oven when it's done. Getting the first look at the tasty meal they'll get to indulge in this evening. They leave the food out to cool and wrap some of it in foil to stay warm for later. Now that the prep work is done, everyone agrees Everyone agrees it's time to go for a Thanksgiving hike, a family tradition. Everyone piles into the van, and Lucius' mom starts driving down the familiar route out of town. can. The colors of the leaves on the trees and of those that have fallen to the ground are beautiful. As they leave the houses and shops behind, the trees get thicker, making the colors even more vibrant. Lucia rolls down the window, letting the fresh, fall breeze brush against her face,

Starting point is 00:15:56 her thick sweater keeping her warm in the wind. the wind. Arriving at the trail, everyone steps out of the car to the sound of crunching leaves underfoot. They make their way to the familiar path, a favorite place from childhood, favorite place from childhood and somewhere they come back to every year. At first, Lucius' family is excited and chatty, but as they find themselves more immersed in nature, everyone gets quieter and spreads out along the path to enjoy the silence alone. Nothing can quite beat the smell of a sunny fall afternoon. The leaves have turned brown and are falling off the trees. The flowers are shedding petals, getting ready for their winter slumber. It seems like such a wonderful surprise of nature that the season of wilting is one of the most beautiful times of year.

Starting point is 00:17:31 Crumbled maple leaves and the browning flowers fill the air with a thick sweetness. Birds hoot and tweet, swooping from branch to branch overhand. Every now and then there's a gentle gust of wind, making the remaining leaves flutter Flutter and knocking a few more colorful leaves off the thinning branches. The breeze brushes Lucy's face and finds its way in between the knit of her sweater, keeping her cool as she starts building heat from the walk. There's something so perfect about the wind this time of year. Bringing in the cooler weather, but not yet too cold. It feels like a greeting from an old friend after the warm summer months. Lucy's cousin stops up ahead and motions for everyone to approach quietly. There's a family of foxes on the side of the trail nibbling on cranberries.

Starting point is 00:19:11 Everyone watches in silence. In awe of these animal neighbors they share the land with. The fox is orange and brown fur, almost blends in with the fallen leaves and their movements are elegant and graceful as they trot from bush to bush. Soon, they disappear into the forest, leaving the family to continue on their walk. The leaves crunch with each dirt of the trail, adding to the mosaic of color all around. The wind rustling the paper dry leaves still on the trees create a distinct sound unique to this season. Birds sing gently, some spending their last moments in these woods before flying south for the winter.

Starting point is 00:20:43 foreflying south for the winter. Lucia walks slowly, feeling her full foot hitting the ground with each step. She's in no rush to get to the end of the trail. She just wants to enjoy each step, each sound, each smell, and each beautifully colored leaf as she walks. As she makes her way down the winding trail, the sound of nature start to mingle with the sounds of people up ahead. Signalling that they're getting close to the orchard, a grand finale of the hike. The trail winds round a corner and leads to a clearing where other families are milling

Starting point is 00:21:50 about enjoying the day together. Lucia loves seeing families of all sorts, some with young kids and babies with their parents and grandparents, other families with all the kids grown up, but still enjoying spending time together. There are also chosen families, those who aren't related by blood, but are just as loved. She sees the cafe in shop, a small lock building in front of rows and rows of apple trees. The smell of baking apples fills the air as Lucia's family gets closer to the building. As they approach, smiling faces greet them and wish them happy Thanksgiving. Lucia finds a patch of grass to sit on and rest her legs from the walk. The breeze cools her and she enjoys the feeling of the sun on her face. After resting her legs, Lucia decides to have a look at the cafe and shop. Inside the delightful smells are even stronger.

Starting point is 00:23:39 There's an assortment of baked apple goods. Apple pies, apple turnovers, Danishes, muffins, and cakes. There are also handmade goods from artists in the area, like cutting boards, This is in the area, like cutting boards, wooden spoons, tablecloths, and handcrafted honey, and maple syrup. Lucia takes some time looking around, appreciating the artistry that goes into these beautiful items and marveling that the community is so creative. At the cafe, Lucia chooses her favorite pastry and sits down at a picnic table with her family to enjoy the snacks, which re-energize them after the walk. Even though there are more people here, the whole atmosphere feels relaxed and pleasant.

Starting point is 00:25:02 Nobody is in a rush. Everybody is simply enjoying the day with family and friends. During the week, so many people take their coffees or food to go, eating in front of a desk or while walking. But on this holiday, everyone is sitting and slowly enjoying the treats of the season with the people they love. Lucia takes a deep breath in and lets the air flow out, enjoying the natural ebb and flow of the day with those around her. She bites into the pastry, the flaky dough, tart apple, and sweet spices filling her mouth with an explosion of delightful flavor, wrapping her hands around a warm mug of tea. She takes a sip and washes down the treat. She continues eating like this, a bite of the sweet pastry washed down by the bitter tea, the perfect combination. The sounds of spoons and mugs and forks slicing

Starting point is 00:26:52 into pastries and cakes outside blend with the sounds of mixing balls and steaming water from the machines making hot drinks in the cafe. Lucia sits for a moment, appreciating the sounds of the people around her, just like she got to hear all the sounds of nature on the trail. to hear all the sounds of nature on the trail. As she watches families coming back with bags of freshly picked apples, the family decides they're ready to explore the apple orchard and perhaps pick some fresh fruit for the week ahead. Lucia returns the empty plates and mugs to the cafe and thanks the barista for the delicious treat. Her family walks into the apple orchard, wandering down neat rows of trees. The red apples sparkle under the sun, looking round and juicy at the perfect ripeness for picking. At the perfect ripeness for picking, Lucia reaches up to feel the smooth skin of an apple

Starting point is 00:28:31 in her palm, and then twists it off the branch and pulls it down. Her brother is carrying a basket, and they all start placing apples in it. At first, the family sticks together, but then everyone wanders in different directions, following their senses to the rosy fruit, and then returning to the basket to empty their horde. Small white, brown and black birds flutter overhead, occasionally landing on the branches of the apple trees. Perhaps the birds too are ready to pick the ripe fruits, so juicy and delicious looking. Lucia enjoys the contrast of sun and shade as she walks down the rows of trees, feeling warm in the sun, and cooling off in the shade

Starting point is 00:29:49 each time she reaches for an apple. The fruits are heavy in her hand as she pulls them down. She starts to find a rhythm. Walk, reach, twist, pull, return. Soon the basket is full. Together, Lucia and her siblings carry it back to the cafe to pay for the fresh fruit. Her dad and aunt walk back and down the road, a quick route back to the car. The sun is bright in the sky, starting to lean more toward evening than noon by the time they return with a car. With the thin clouds and sun moving lower in the sky, the light has turned a little little bit hazy, wrapping the entire orchard in a yellowish glow.

Starting point is 00:31:11 Lifting the apples into the car, there's a satisfying thunk of the basket, and then everyone piles in for the ride home. one piles in for the ride home. Having chatted all day, they drive back home in silence, watching the reds, oranges, and browns outside the window in the glowing light. Now that everyone has had time to get used to each other again, the silence feels comfortable, like a warm blanket on a cold day. Stepping out of the car at home, Lucia stretches her legs and heads back inside. The house is warm with the cooking food at the cafe, and she's getting quite hungry, ready for the day's feast.

Starting point is 00:32:36 Plates clatter as they get pulled out of the cupboard and sat around the long wooden table in the living room. The metal cutlery jingles as it's pulled from the drawer. Heat seeps out of the oven as it's opened, and Lucia pulls out the heavy turkey and puts it on the stove top. In the house the family moves as if in a dance, scooping vegetables, potatoes, gravy and stuffing into different bowls and platters and laying it on the table. and laying it on the table. Lucy's dad carves the turkey,

Starting point is 00:33:29 the aroma of it, wafting from the kitchen, into the dining room. Everyone takes their seats, and Lucy carries the main dish in, laying it in the center of the table. She pauses briefly to take in the food and the people and feel grateful for this wonderful day. feel grateful for this wonderful day. Everyone is silent for a moment. Before they begin eating, they go around the table and everyone shares something they've been grateful for in the last year. As each person speaks, Lucia feels a warm glow spreading through her. So happy that these people she loves have so much that they are grateful for in their lives.

Starting point is 00:34:48 When it's Lucie's turn, she takes her time to think about the good things that have happened in the past year. She shares the fun events she's been to, the things she's accomplished, and all the wonderful people she's gotten to spend time with. Once everyone has finished sharing, it's time to dig into the food. Conversation starts up, and once again the house is full of chatting, as hands scoop creamy mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, maple glazed squash, stuffing, turkey, and gravy onto plates. Luccia appreciates the food and all the work that went into growing, preparing, and cooking it. looking at. Then she starts to eat, going slowly to save her

Starting point is 00:36:10 each bite. The hot food warms her up from the crisp day. The specific mixture of tastes reminds her of all the previous Thanksgiving she's had. She takes time to reflect on how much she's loved this holiday since she was a kid. Before recentering herself in the present moment, wanting to enjoy every last second of this day. The turkey and graverier both perfectly spiced, and the roasted squash and carrots are the perfect combination of salty and a little bit sweet. After enjoying each of the dishes, she notices the feeling of fullness settling in. Forks and knives clatter on plates as everyone eats their food. Lucia gets up and reheats the apple cider from this morning, pouring everyone a fresh glass. So there's something to wash down the delicious food with.

Starting point is 00:37:50 Everyone enjoys slowing down and really tasting each different bite. It can be easy to rush meals, getting caught up in all that needs to be done. But today, there is nothing else to do but enjoy each bite, flavor, and moment. and moment. As the night wears on, people put down their forks and knives to full to eat anymore. Lucia leans back in her chair, enjoying the feeling of a nice full belly that comes with special occasions like this. Her brother gets up to put on some calming music and Lucie feels her eyelids starting to get heavy, satisfied with every part of this day. But it's not yet quite time to retire for the night. Her parents disappear into the kitchen while everyone else helps clear the table.

Starting point is 00:39:29 Lucia carries a stack of white plates and places them in the sink. Once the table is cleared, everyone helps carry in the dessert, a freshly baked apple pie with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Sitting back at the table, Lucia cuts the pie and passes it around to everyone, and then helps herself to a slice and a scoop of mixed berries. She covers both with a couple tablespoons of whipped cream. The cream melts a little over the hot pie, and she takes her first bite. The richness of the pastry and sweetness of the apple are nicely complemented by the cream on top, making it the perfect dessert. Her brother gets up to fill a kettle as everyone reclines, enjoying the last few mouthfuls of the meal.

Starting point is 00:41:11 The water steams and hisses in the kitchen, and when he returns, he's carrying a pot of mint tea. Lucia pours herself a cup and holds the warm mug in her hands. She notices the steam rising from the cup and takes a deep breath. Enjoying the feeling of a steam on her face, placing it on the table, she watches the steam thin until it's cooled off enough to drink. Everyone brings the tea into the living room where they stretch out, reclining on couches and curling up in cozy chairs. They drink the warm soothing tea as they each share one more thing they're grateful for.

Starting point is 00:42:38 This time from the past day. From the past day. It's hard for Lucia to choose, as there have been so many wonderful things about the day. But she knows that mostly, she's grateful to get to spend time with the people she loves. Soon, mags are empty and conversation slows. One by one, they start heading to bed. When Lucia feels ready, she walks to her childhood bedroom. Her parents have left it just as she remembered, decorated with all of her favorite things from when she was younger.

Starting point is 00:43:57 She crawls under the covers and gets nice and cozy, finding the perfect position to lie down in. She fluffes the pillows and pulls the blankets up until she feels totally comfortable, cocooned and safe. Lusia hears the wind brushing against the glass of the window, and the soft footsteps of her relatives getting ready for bed and finding their way to their rooms. Her eyelids feel heavy, and now she's truly ready to go to sleep. She hears the wind rustle, the dry leaves on the trees outside, and imagine the red orange and brown leaves floating from the branches to the ground, coating the earth in beautiful, fall colors. beautiful fall colors. When she closes her eyes, she can see the colors of the leaves and hear the sounds of them crumbling, getting ready for their winter sleep. She wraps herself in blankets and lets the Pull her into a deep slumber. you I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room.

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Starting point is 00:48:54 I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. I'm going to go to the next room. you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing. I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing.

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Starting point is 00:52:00 I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. I'm going to do a little bit of the work. you you you you you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Cozy Canadian Thanksgiving

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