Welcome to bedtime stories for grown-ups, in which nothing much happens.

You feel good, and then you fall asleep.

I'm Catherine Nikolai. I write and read all the stories you hear on Nothing Much Happens.

Audio engineering is by Bob Wittersheim.

My book, also called Nothing Much Happens, is available wherever books are sold.

You can listen to ad-free and bonus episodes of this show by becoming a founding member

of our subscription service. There are different tiers, but in general, it costs about a dime a day,

and is a really lovely way to support what we do.

Go to Nothing Much Happens.com to sign up.

Now, I'm going to read you a bedtime story.

I'll tell it twice, going a little slower the second time through.

Just by listening, you will shift your brain activity from the staticy buzz of your default mode to the smooth hum of task mode,

which all just means you'll shift into a place where you can fall asleep.

If you wake in the middle of the night, try thinking your way back through any parts of the

story that you can remember, or even just a fond memory. This is brain training, and you'll notice that the more you practice,

the more quickly and deeply you will sleep. 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 veterans crisis line.net or judgment. Dial 988, then press 1. Chat at veteranscrisisline.net or text 838255 to reach the veterans crisis line. Responders are ready to support you no matter what you're going through.

Now turn out your light. Settle your body into your favorite sleep

position and feel everything relax. You have done enough for today. It is enough. You can let go now.

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