Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Peaceful Walk in a Snowy Forest

Episode Date: December 25, 2023

Narrator: Thomas Jones 🇬🇧 Writer: Christa Adams ✍️ Sound design: footsteps in snow 🥾 Includes mentions of: Food, Winter, Fire, Walking, Animals, Beverages, Ice & Snow, Ice Skating, Science & Nature, Rabbits.  Merry Christmas, sleepyheads! Tonight's befittingly wintry tale takes us on a pleasant wander through a snowy forest, where a treehouse cafe with a roaring bonfire awaits us in the middle of the woods. 😴 Watch, listen and comment on this episode on the Get Sleepy YouTube channel. And hit subscribe while you're there! Enjoy various playlists of our stories and meditations on our Slumber Studios Spotify profile. Support our Sponsors Check out the great products and deals from Get Sleepy sponsors: getsleepy.com/sponsors/ Support Us   - Get Sleepy’s Premium Feed: https://getsleepy.com/support/.  - Get Sleepy Merchandise: https://getsleepy.com/store.  - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-sleepy/id1487513861.  Connect  Stay up to date on all podcast news and even vote on upcoming episodes!  - Website: https://getsleepy.com/.  - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getsleepypod/.  - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getsleepypod/.  - Twitter: https://twitter.com/getsleepypod.  Get Sleepy FAQs Have a query for us or need help with something? You might find your answer here: Get Sleepy FAQs About Get Sleepy  Get Sleepy is the #1 story-telling podcast designed to help you get a great night’s rest. By combining sleep meditation with a relaxing bedtime story, each episode will guide you gently towards sleep.    Get Sleepy Premium Get instant access to ad-free episodes, as well as the Thursday night bonus episode by subscribing to our premium feed. It's easy! Sign up in two taps!  Get Sleepy Premium feed includes:  Monday and Wednesday night episodes (with zero ads). The exclusive Thursday night bonus episode. Access to the entire back catalog (also ad-free). Extra-long episodes Exclusive sleep meditation episodes. Discounts on merchandise. We’ll love you forever. Get your 7-day free trial: https://getsleepy.com/support.    Thank you so much for listening!  Feedback? Let us know your thoughts! https://getsleepy.com/contact-us/.   That’s all for now. Sweet dreams ❤️ 😴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey friends, for the best Get Sleepy experience, be sure to check out our supporters' feed Get Sleepy Premium for our free listening weekly bonus episodes and access to our entire catalogue. Now, a quick word from our sponsors who make the free version of this show possible. Do you have little ones in your life? Whether you're a parent, teacher, aunt, uncle, grandparent, babysitter, we all know that keeping kids calm and entertained can be difficult. That's why I want to introduce you to the newest show by some of studios. It's called Snuggle, and it features calming stories for kids of all ages.

Whether it's for bedtime, nap time, or just for fun, Snuggle offers a calming world of imagination. You'll find original stories where we swim with mermaids, visit old toy stores, and try out magical ones. And you'll hear our modernised renditions of classic tales like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. Just search Snuggle in your podcast player and be sure to follow the show. I'll see you there the next time you and your little ones are looking for a cozy story to snuggle up with. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy.

I'm your host, Thomas. Thank you so much for joining me tonight, particularly if you are indeed listening on Christmas Day itself. For all that celebrate it, I hope you've had a safe, joyous, and peaceful Christmas. You're probably feeling a bit exhausted by now though, so I hope tonight's story will help you to rest up and recharge after the days for stivities. A befittingly wintery tale awaits us. Soon we'll wander through a snowy forest, passing by a local wildlife and winter foliage, before arriving at a treehouse cafe with a roaring bonfire. It was beautifully written by Christa, and I'm pleased to say that I will be coming up this week. Plus, next Sunday,

on New Year's Eve, we have a very special bonus meditation episode available to all our listeners, which is going to help you wind down and let go at the end of the year just gone. And prepare for a positive and calm start to 2024. It would be wonderful if you joined me for that too, so I hope to see you there next Sunday. For now though, the day is done and no matter how you spent it and what you got up to, you are truly deserving of a restful night's sleep. So make yourself nice and cozy under your covers, bringing the doofay up to your chin. Ensure you're in a comfortable position, and let your head sink into the pillow, feeling it carry the weight, relieving your neck and shoulders of their diligent work, having kept your focus to the breath.

Drawing long steady inhales of air, allow it to travel all the way into your stomach. Then try to exhale just as steadily, perhaps through past lips, giving ample time to release any tension or unwanted energies. And just tell yourself quietly in your mind that you are breathing in an essence of calm and exhaling tension, relieving yourself of burdensome feelings, both physically and mentally. and continue to ease into the pleasant spot where you can get a good night's rest. And in the meantime, let's take on Winter's Walk in the Forest. This is where our story begins. You hear the thick snow crunch beneath your boots as you walk. The air is frigid, but still. Although it's press outside, you're well dressed for this weather. The sun shines down through the tree branches, keeping you comfortably warm in your cozy layers. Your toes are nestled in woolly socks and winter boots.

Your body is wrapped in a knit sweater and a long coat that comes down to your thighs. and a long coat that comes down to your thighs. On your hands are a pair of light coloured gloves, and you have a thick hand made beanie on your head. You are ready for a winter's day in the forest. And so you look ahead at the path, sprawling out in front of you. The wild fill is silent and timeless as you gaze out at the quiet scenery. The bare forest is dusted in powdery white snow. It looks like a perfect winter wonderland.

The kind you'd find hidden inside a wardrobe. You smile thinking of the enchanting land of Nania as you stand on the silent path. In the distance, the silence is broken by a quiet thump. It's the sound of a cup of snow falling from a tree branch. Your path today winds through a forest of balsam fa and barch. The whitewashed trunks of the barch trees are camouflaged in the snowy world around you. You admire how picturesque it looks. But your thoughts soon turn to the treat awaiting you at the end of your walk. The extra special thing about this particular forest is the treehouse-style cafe tucked deep within it, nestled beside a frozen pond. Despite its seemingly remote location, it is one of the gems to be found around the nearby village and locals adore wandering one of the many paths to their cafe. Though the trails are quite easy

to follow, they are rendered almost unnecessary by the delicious scent that permeates these People often say all they need to do is follow their noses and the aroma of fresh coffee and cinnamon pastries will lead them right to the cafe. You take a deep breath and exhaling. You bring your mind back to your surroundings. Nature feels peaceful to you and your mind and body are at ease when you are surrounded by it. Whatever the season may be. You continue to walk as little clumps of snow crunch and cling to the bottoms of your boots. You know this particular path very well as you frequent it throughout the year. Truly, you believe it to be one of the most beautiful paths in the world. In spring, the floor is laced with vivid wildflowers. In summer, the bright suns rays dust the green grass with gold. Finally, autumn is greeted by orange leaves and mushrooms dotting the ground.

But to you, there is something about this forest in winter that makes it all the silence, the purity of the scenery, or the way you have to bundle up like you're embarking on an adventure. Whatever it is, it brings you an extra touch of happiness. A gentle wind moves past you. You watch the branches of the trees rustle as though following the wind through the forest. The breeze vanishes as quickly as it came. You tug on your hat, adjusting it over your ears. The wool feels warm and soft when it touches your skin. The breeze left behind a few fallen needles from the balsam fertries. They dust the ground and create a beautiful contrast to the gleaming white snow. As you look out in front of you, you notice a friendly little creature in the near distance. The animal bobs up and down. It's soft grey fur glistening against the backdrop of snow.

It is a rabbit of course. You take another step and it raises its head, indicating that it has heard you. It perks up one of its long floppy ears towards you. Using its pink nose, its sn hops back down along the path. Its fluffy little tail brings a smile to your face as it bounces away. You imagine it's on a hunt for the many winter berries that grow here. The wildlife is something you particularly love about this place. On your walks, you're almost always joined by a rabbit or some other friendly animal going about their business in the forest. There are at least half a dozen white one that blends in handsomely with the snow, at least two brown and beige rabbits, and a couple of white and black speckled

ones too. 2. They've made this charming forest their home, spending their days foraging for berries, or resting in their underground dens. Surely they are living a sweet and simple life tucked away in the woods. You continue in the footsteps of the rabbit walking deeper into the forest towards a frozen pond. The delicious aroma of balsam fah catches your nose. You close your eyes and breathe it all in. The beautiful smells of wintertime in nature. There's the aromatic scent of the trees, the crisp cleanness of the snow, and you imagine there might be the slightest hint of coffee and pastries. Soon you pass by a small stream that flows south until it connects with a larger river beyond the town.

Today, the top layer of the stream is frozen solid. You approach the edge of it and look down at the water that flows under the ice. You admire that life like this can still manage to thrive despite the chilly temperatures. The fish below, wriggle down the stream, navigating past mossy stones and fallen tree branches in the most effortless way. You're enjoying the freedom to take your time on today's walk. There is no rush. There is no other place you need to be. You can enjoy the day, the cool air on your face, and the delicate sounds of nature all around you. And so you do just that. The warmth of your woolly gloves soothes your skin.

You breathe out and see your breath form a cloud which lingers for a moment. You absolutely love this cold fresh weather. While you also enjoy the delights of summer, you find joy in the sensation of chilly cheeks, thermal layers and the blissfully cozy feeling that winter brings. You think it might be nice to have a roaring fire in the hearth when you return home. You'll listen to the sound of crackling wood mingling with some quiet music as you read a book perhaps or cook some delicious food. Or maybe you're just do's on the sofa enjoying your peaceful day to the fullest. But for now, you are here in this blissful moment, walking towards the little cafe tucked away among the trees. This is your own winter paradise. To your left, you hear the snap

of a twig. You turn your head to see where the sound is coming from. Off at a safe distance, you spot a large majestic moose standing in the snow. The animal leans its head down and chews on twigs and needles from a balsam fertry. You watch its jaw move around as it nores on the pieces. Then the moose gracefully lifts up its head. Its antlers sprawl out from the top, and you notice that its thick brown fur is dusted with snow like powdered sugar. It glances over to you casually, before turning its head back down to focus on its snacks on the ground.

The moose is certainly accustomed to seeing people in the forest. Today is just a particularly quiet day. You tend to see at least a couple of other people on your walks. There are a few regulars, the elderly couple, who stroll hand in hand. A man and his daughter, who bring their friendly husky with them. And a young woman, who sometimes manages to walk and read classic works of literature, at the same time. Those are the people you see the most, but there are plenty of others you've become to fall from the sky. At first, you think it's just some powder coming loose from the branches above your head. But after a moment or two, you realise it is actually snowing again. The snowfall is soft and only adds to the atmosphere.

The flakes are fluffy and delicate. A few of the larger ones stick to your coat sleeve. You reach out to your hand and catch one in your glove. You bring it up to your face to inspect its unique shape. After all, they say no two snowflakes are the same. While you're studying the tiny white flag, another light breeze brings a familiar scent to your nose. It's the mixed aroma of firewood, peppermint, coffee and cinnamon. It twels through the air, luring you to the coffee shop. Continuing on a little further, you soon come to the most picturesque place. pond, tall, stately trees, and a quaint treehouse cafe, perched delicately in the middle. In spring there are ducks that swim and bob around the pond, but today, they are tucked away somewhere cozy, and the ice is glittering,

white and silver. Sometimes, people bring their ice skates here. You notice a woman on the left hand side of the pond. She is resting on a tree stump, slipping on a pair of red-coloured ice skates. It's a beautiful day for skating. The cafe itself is a rustic tree house. There are short stairs that wind up to the main level. It's a stunning sight, but somehow the ground floor below it is even more inviting, with a roaring bonfire and log benches surrounding it. Cute fairy lights are strong above the benches, hanging from the trees and adding a touch

of twinkling magic. You see the elderly couple you know from your walks sitting by the bonfire with blankets on their laps, cradling cups of hot chocolate in their hands. You smile and wave to them and they return the greeting. You love the familiarity of this place. You step over to the bonfire for just a moment, making casual small talk with the couple as you rub your hands together near the flames. You feel the luxurious tingling sensation of your body warming up. The bonfire area is spacious with room for at least a dozen guests. You might sit here later, but for now you'd like to make your way up to the coffee shop. You follow a wooden arrow with the words, coffee this way, which leads you to the wooden

staircase. Snow has piled up on either side of the reigning. The wooden stairs creak as you head up to the second level. The delicious aroma of coffee and baked goods becomes stronger and stronger until you reach the door. You push it open and wipe your feet on the door mat before entering, so you don't bring in any snow. Inside, the coffee shop boasts a rustic design, with wooden walls sedoned with a clectic art and lighting. If not for the modern espresso machine and cash register, This place would make you feel like you had travelled back in

time. You are quickly greeted by the barista, a young woman with big green eyes and a warm winter hat on her head. You approach the counter, perusing the display of pastries. You know the offerings change daily, so you always take a moment to look. Today you see cinnamon swells, peppermint bark brownies and quassons. Their quassons are delicious, they are flaky and crisp on the outside and melting the mouth perfect on the inside. But today you are curious about the peppermint bark brownies. They seem like a wintery treat that will go fantastically with your favourite coffee. So you order and pay accordingly.

You decide to take a seat at a small table and corners of the window, framing the view outside. You hear the click and whir of the espresso machine as the barista makes your drink. These familiar sounds are calming to you. Leaning back in your chair, you glance out of the window. The woman who was beside the pond earlier is now gliding across the smooth ice in a seemingly effortless motion. She moves backwards before dipping down and twirling up into an elegant circle at the center of the pond. You watch her hair flowing around her. She reminds you of an old jewelry box you once saw. When the box was opened, a beautiful ballerina popped up and began to dance to a sleepy tune. The ice skaters movement brought this memory to mind.

A few moments later, the green-eyed barista brings over your coffee in a white mug. The steam gently flows up from the drink as she sets it down alongside the sweet brownie. You thinker before closing your eyes and taking a deep breath in. You detect the aromas of peppermint, chocolate and coffee. A delicious combination you think. You bring the coffee to your nose and fill the warmth of it in your hands. Then you take a small sip. It's perfect. Now it's time to try the brownie. Serve it to room temperature. It feels soft and dense in your hand.

You take a bite and your teeth glide through it smoothly. You fill the sweet crunch of peppermint every once in a while. It's just as tasty as you had imagined. You spend the next little while enjoying the experience. A sweet treat, a warm drink, the ambience of the treehouse cafe, and the scent of the bonfire, which catches your nose every so often. You also watch the delicate snowflakes fall from the sky, as the ice-gator continues to glide outside. She seems so carefree and it fills you with a warm and happy sensation. Once you're finished, you brush the brownie crumbs from your fingertips, wipe your mouth, and wave a cheerful goodbye to the barista, before making your way down the staircase.

Back out in the elements, you fill the chill of winter against your cheeks once again. But that warm and happy feeling from inside the cafe, lingers in your body and mind. The Aldermy couple has left the bonfire area. You walk over and take a seat. Your body instantly feels cosier next to the toasty, crackling fire. Looking around, you admire the evergreen trees, dusted in snow, and the bare branches of the birch trees. As you look up, you notice a squirrel munching on something in one of the trees.

The squirrel scurries down the bark. It is carrying a couple of nuts. You watch as it dips down into a nearby hole in the trunk. You imagine these squirrels of the forest, taking towns, foraging for extra meals, to keep each other warm. Simply beautiful, you think. Your mind travels to co-seeing up when you are back at home later, in your own warm and homely den in the countryside.

Perhaps you will make a nice hearty stew before retreating to a good book nestled under a woolly, throw blanket by the fire. But for now, you soak up the warmth of the bonfire in front of you, and listen to the soft sounds of falling clumps of snow, and the whish of metal blades skating on the ice. You are completely relaxed. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 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. I'm going to go to the next room.

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