If you're listening, you know self-care is vital for overall wellness,

but it can be hard to prioritize yourself and ask for what you need.

If you're a veteran going through a tough time,

there are people who want to listen and help with no pressure or judgment.

Dial 988, then press 1. Chat at veteranscrisisline.net or text 8355 to reach the

Veterans Crisis Line. Responders are ready to support you no matter what you're going through.

Welcome to Bedtime for grown-ups,

in which nothing much happens.

You feel good, and then you fall asleep.

All stories are written and read by me, Catherine Nicolai, with audio engineering by Bob Wittersheim.

Thank you for listening and for sharing our stories with anyone you know who likes relaxation and good sleep.

You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook

for an extra bit of coziness.

Now let me say a bit about how to use this podcast.

I'm about to tell you a bedtime story,

to help you relax and ease your mind into sleep.

The story is simple, and not much happens in it,

and that is kind of the idea.

Just let your mind follow along with the details of what you hear and the sound of my voice.

I'll tell the story twice, and I'll go a little slower the second time through.

If you find you're still awake at the end of the second telling, not to worry, that's just

fine.

...