Welcome to Bedtime Stories for Everyone, in which nothing much happens.

You feel good, and then you fall asleep.

I'm Catherine Nikolai.

I create everything you hear, and nothing much happens.

Audio engineering is by Bob Wittersheim.

We give to a different charity each week.

And this week we are giving to United 24, which works to unite the world around

supporting Ukraine in an effort to protect, save, and rebuild. You can learn more in our show notes.

Thanks to some recent premium subscribers. Thank you, Aiden. Thank you, Karna. Kyle and Mary, thank you. Your support means so much to us. As always, you can subscribe to our premium for ad-free and bonus episodes. It's super affordable.

It's literally about a dime a day. And the links are in our show notes.

I have a story to tell you. It is a soft place to rest your mind.

And just by listening, you'll condition a reliable response in your nervous system to fall asleep and return to sleep easily.

This is a form of brain training.

So be patient if you are new to this.

I'll read the story twice,

and I'll go a little slower the second time through.

If you wake again later in the night,

think back through any part of the story you can remember,

or just push play again. Our story tonight is called Rain on the Lake. And it's a story about a sudden arrival of drops and dark clouds on a spring afternoon.

It's also about a brooch and a jewelry box, the smell of rain mixing with lake water, mist, and lamps lit in the darkness, memories of rainbows and rowboats, and taking rest as showers move across the horizon.

I was a full-time yoga teacher for over 20 years, and I know the power of intentional breathing.

It's why our two deep breaths have been part of our bedtime routine since episode one.

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