Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Tranquil Day at the Beach

Episode Date: January 25, 2023

Narrator: Nicky Branagh-Schmidt 🇬🇧 Writer: Lily Loveless ✍️  Sound design: morning birdsong 🐦  Includes mentions of: Dogs, Bodies of Water, Swimming, Gratitude Welcome back, sleepyheads. Tonight, in a follow up to ‘A Quiet Morning Connecting with Nature’, we’re going to meet Nick – one of Jade’s neighbours and friends – and his brown Labrador, Juno. 😴  Watch, listen and comment on this episode on the Get Sleepy YouTube channel! And hit subscribe while you're there! :) Support our Sponsors Check out 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.  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). Exclusive sleep meditation episodes. Discounts on merchadise. 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. Hello and welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. As always I'm your host Thomas, thanks for tuning in. Tonight's story is about a man and his dog at the beach, beautifully written by Lily, and soothingly read by Nikki. It's a follow-up to an earlier episode we released called a quiet morning connecting with nature.

In that story, a young woman named Jade had her first volunteering session. This time we're going to meet Nick, one of Jade's neighbors and friends, and his brown Labrador, Juno. Now it means the world to the team and I, to be able to bring this show to you, and to help you get the best sleep possible. However, we can't do it without the kind support of our premium subscribers. So, if you're enjoying the show and you feel like you're getting a lot of value from it, in terms of good rest and better health, it would be amazing to have your support on Get Sleepy Premium.

As a big thank you for being a part of the Get Sleepy family, the benefits for our premium supporters include nearly 500 full-length episodes to choose from each night, or completely out-free. Plus our weekly bonus episodes that come out every Thursday exclusively on Get Sleepy Premium. Tomorrow I'll be reading a meditative story full of calming sensory experiences about a visit to a spa that utilizes colour therapy. To hear that and everything else on our premium feed, go to GetSleepy.com slash support. You'll have a 7 day free trial when you first sign up to make sure you're happy. That's GetSleepy.com slash support, or

you can simply follow the link in the show notes to find out more. Now them, it's nearly time for our story. But first, let's just take some time to relax and unwind. Give yourself a moment to acknowledge any thoughts that are still lingering in your mind. Whatever they may be, now is not the time to deal with these thoughts. Now is the time to let them go. If you do find yourself having difficulty quietening your mind, you could try visualizing your thoughts as small, fluffy feathers, and they're just resting on the palm of your hand. Each feather represents a different thought. or two, or perhaps several little feathers clustered together.

Just watch them on your palm for a moment without judgment. sense how soft and how light these feathers feel. Completely harmless to you. In fact, they are so light that as soon as they leave your hand, they will be carried away by the breeze. Stretch your hand out white, and gently blow those light, fluffy feathers from your palm. They are so weightless that they float up into the air, carried further away, and gradually out of sight. Now that you've let your thoughts gently drift away, we can begin our story. We're back on Florence Road, which some of you may remember from before. It's a calm and peaceful morning, so let's join Nick as he wakes up from a good night's sleep. Nick, head still sunk into his pillow, opened his eyes. Two big brown ones were looking straight back at him. Juno, his beloved dog, was sitting on the floor by the bed,

with her head resting on the mattress gazing at him. Nick smiled, and immediately Juno's tail began to swipe back and forth across the carpet as she wagged it happily. back and forth across the carpet as she wagged it happily. This is how Nick awoke every day. He wondered how long Juno sat there, patiently waiting for him to get up each morning. He reached his arm over the bed and stroked Juno on the head. A fur was soft and warm. She liked to sit in the spots of sunlight that came into the bedroom in the mornings. She must have been doing that just before Nick woke up. Nick stretched, pulled his duvet off him, and stepped into a pool of sunlight on the carpet. Like Juneau, he enjoyed the way it felt, and stood there for a moment as

it warmed his feet. He could hear the faint sounds of some of his neighbors leaving early for work. He listened closely. He was sure he could hear his next or neighbor Joe, saying goodbye to his partner Kate and their two children. Nick smiled. They were a lovely family and the best neighbors one could ask for. Nick made the bed whilst Juneau waited patiently. When he had finished, he turned to Juno and asked, Reckvast. Juno stood up straight, had tail wagging excitedly, and her mouth wide as if smiling. Nick opened the bedroom door, and Juno led the way down the hall to the kitchen. He filled Juneau's two bowls, food in one and water in the other. Ben, he made himself a steaming hot cup of coffee.

He opened a window that looked down onto his street, drinking his coffee as the cool morning breeze ruffled his hair. From here he could see his car. He'd packed everything he needed for today last night, so it was all ready for him and Juneau this morning. Today, he was taking Juneau to the beach. They'd leave straight after breakfast. When Nick had finished in the kitchen, he left Juno to lie by the open window while he got

dressed and made sure he hadn't forgotten anything. He got Juno's harness out of the cupboard by the door, and turned to see Juno waiting behind him. She let him pull it over her head and attach the lead. He told Juno to pick a toy, and she trotted off returning with her big squeaky ball in her mouth. They were ready. They stepped out of their front door, but the same time as their neighbors. Kate and the two children were leaving for the school

run. The kids beamed. Juno's here. Juno jumped up so her front legs won the dividing wall between their gardens. And they stroked and scratched her all over. Nick laughed as he saw how much Juno enjoyed the attention. Her tail wagged nonstop, swatting Nick's legs. Nick told them he was taking Juno to the beach today. They all wish they could come too. Nick smiled.

Next time we'll all go together. Hate gave Juno a big stroke before wishing Nick and Juno a lovely day and ushering the two excited children up the path towards school. Nick waived goodbye, wishing them a good morning. Nick looked up. The sky was blue with not a cloud in sight. It was a perfect day to go to the beach. Duno led the way to the car.

She loved going on trips. Nick opened the back door and Juneau jumped in, resting her big squeaky ball on the seat beside her, and turning a few times in order to get comfortable before lying down. Nick gently shut the door behind her and climbed into the driver's seat. Nick had built a small extension onto the armrest in the middle of the car, as Juno liked to rest her head on it and stretch out. Now that both of them were settled in, Nick began the drive down Florence Road, turning off for the end of it. Their little adventure had officially begun. The roads were clear with hardly any other cars travelling at this time of day.

They had successfully missed the traffic. Nick loved the feeling of being free, out on the road, heading away from town and into the quiet of the countryside. Every now and then, Juneau would give his arm a gentle boop just to remind him she was there. Her head lay on the armrest, just by the crook of his elbow. She was happiest when she was near him. She let out a sigh, quite content. Halfway into the drive, Nick pulled into a quiet service station. Juno raised her head looking out at where they were. Nick found a spot.

They were a grassy embankment. He let Juno out to stretch her legs and also got out her travel water bowl so she could have a drink. They walked over to a hut that was near the main service building where a serving hatch was open. A friendly barista was waiting behind it, greeted Nick with a warm smile, asking how he could help. Nick had already had his coffee this morning. Now, he fancied a little treat.

The barista told him that they had a selection of freshly baked cakes for sale. They had victorious bunge, chocolate, and lemon drizzle. Lemon drizzle had been Nick's favorite since he was little. He'd have a slice of that please. He paid for the cake before the barista pointed to a bowl of free doggie treats. Nick thanked him, took his slice of lemon drizzle and a treat for Juneau, and headed back towards the grass. They ate their snacks on the grassy bank before getting back into the car and setting off once more. It wouldn't belong to the beach now. Soon enough, Nick was pulling into a small car park on the edge of Cardigan Bay Beach. They were here.

Juno sat up straight, tail swishing from side to side, as she looked out of the window. Her nose was already raised, pointed upwards, smelling all the new sense, and her breath was fogging up the window. She could barely contain her excitement. As Nick opened her door, Duno leapt out and ran straight for the sand? Nick laughed and followed her. She didn't need her lead here. She was free to roam and explore as she pleased. The beach was quiet. Only a couple of other dogwalkers here and there. The sound of the waves ebbing and flowing and washing up on the sandy banks was so relaxing. Nick faced the shore and closed his eyes. The sun gleamed up in the sky. The odd sprays of water droplets on the waves

were keeping Nick cool. He could hear Juno sniffling about beside him. Her tail gently brushing against his legs as she moved about. Nick opened his eyes. The sun's reflection gleamed across the surface of the water, making it twinkle. Nick began to explore the ground with Juno, looking for any unusual rocks or shells. He liked finding trinkets he could keep. Each one he kept reminded him of the different beaches he and Juno had explored together. He reached down and lifted a half submerged shell from the sand. It was a beautiful shade of soft pink with curled edges.

Nick wiped it clean and admired it. He'd never seen a shell this colour before. It was in pristine condition and would fit perfectly with his collection at home. He pocketed it before looking for a good stick for Juneau. He found one that was the right size and held it high. Duno jumped with excitement, spinning once or twice on the spot in anticipation. Finally, Nick released it, casting it into the shallow waters, and Juneau ran after it. They repeated this as they headed up the beach, following the sand as it stretched out the length of the bay.

Cliff slined the edge of the beach, a gentle gradient leading up to them from the carpark. A Nick noticed a sign for a hidden footpath. Perhaps he and Juneau would explore it after lunch. For now, they wanted to stay on the sandy banks. Nick couldn't help but appreciate the peacefulness of the place. No cars. No traffic. No sirens.

Just the sounds of the waves and seabirds. Bliss. Soon a new sound reached Nick's ears. He couldn't think what it was at first. It was a washing sound, continuous and melodic. They walked on until they found the source of the noise. Nick couldn't quite believe his eyes. Water was cascading over the side of the cliffs, creating the most beautiful natural waterfall Nick had ever seen. The water poured through a crevice at the top, down the cliff face, and into a small

pool at the bottom of it. From here, the water made its way through a nook in the sand, and out into the sea. Nick felt like he had stumbled upon a secret place of beauty that no one else knew about. Do you know it paddled in the pool, and Nick crashed down to feel the water with his hands. It was so clean. He whirled his hands back and forth. The slippery water appearing almost like silk across his palms. He stood up and watched the water make its way down the stream and out to sea, where it then merged with the ocean. He thought about how it would provide fresh nutrients and what kind of sea life would benefit from this very waterfall.

Nature really was a wonder to behold. No matter what else was going on, it would always persist quietly in the background. After reaching the end of the beach, Nick decided it was time for a swim. He and Juneau headed back to the car park, and Nick got his packed bag and a blue and white striped beach umbrella out of the boot. They headed back to find the perfect place to settle in. Nick spotted an area towards one side, where he could hear the sound of the waterfall. It was close to the water but not close enough to get wet while lying there.

The sand was soft. He could imagine having a nap later. Nick set out Juno's travel bowl so she could calm and drink from it as she pleased. Next, he stuck the bottom of the big umbrella into the sand and opened it up, creating a round area of shade. He got his towel out of his bag and spread it on the sand ready for when he came back from his swim. He was already in his swimming trunks. He called to Juno, he was sniffling around near the umbrella and began to walk towards the sea. Juno came and trotted alongside him. Nick stepped into the water with his bare feet. It was so clean and clear and the sunlight bouncing off it made it look like diamonds.

He scrunched his toes so that he could feel the sand between them. Together, they waded further in, until the water was around Nick's waist. Juno was a wonderful swimmer, and loved being in the open water. She stayed close to Nick while he swam. It was as if she thought she needed to keep an eye on him. The feeling of the cool water on Nick's body and the warm sun on his face was so refreshing. There was nothing like swimming in the sea, especially on a day like this. E and Juno splashed around together in the gentle waves. Juno found a washed-up log and holding it in her mouth swam over to Nick.

He took it from her and cast it towards the shore. Juno swam after it. It landed on the sand and Juno retrieved it before turning and running back into the water creating big splashes. Nick couldn't help but laugh. Juno was a picture of pure joy. Nick began floating on his back. It felt as if he was the only person in the world. The sun gleamed above him. The waves gently rocked him, holding him up and supporting his body. He felt so grateful to be able to be here,

to experience the wonderful gift nature had to offer, and to feel at one with the world. and to feel at one with the world. Nick and Juno swam towards the shore, stepping back onto the soft sand. Juno shook the water from her coat, spraying Nick's legs with hundreds of little droplets. Nick laid down on his towel and retrieved a bottle of water from his bag. Juneau spun around on the spot a few times before settling in the shade of the umbrella and letting out a contented sigh. Nick sipped the cool, before opening his book. He was reading a story about a family from South America in the 1970s.

It was full of beautiful imagery, a Nick loved reading about all the different characters in the family. He'd always wanted to travel to South America. Maybe soon, he would finally book the trip. Nick could hear Juno as she gently started snoring. The sun had moved across the sky, casting Nick in the moving shadow of the umbrella. His eyelids felt heavy. He turned the page of his book and tried to concentrate on the words in front of him, but they seemed to blur as his mind began drifting away from the characters in the story, he closed the book and put it to one side. He lay on his back and allowed his eyes to close.

back and allowed his eyes to close. He could hear the waves breathing in and out fast asleep. And he could hear the sound of the waterfall cascading down the cliff and trickling along the sand towards the sea. The rhythm of all the sounds seemed to merge into one. Next side happily, as he drifted off into a contented sleep, full of twinkling water water and sunshine. 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. 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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