Hi, friends. This episode is a little bit different. It's a story that is specially designed to help you

relax. Did you know that one great way to do that is to quickly imagine different things? An apple,

a zebra, a mountain, a sock, one right after the other.

It's something called cognitive shuffling,

and research shows that it helps the brain to shake off all the thoughts from the day and cruise into a nice rest.

As you listen to this story, take some deep breaths

and picture each scene to give your brain a little

imagination vacation. Happy listening. As the sunsets on Dragon Mountain, the warm light fades from gold to rosy pink to dusty blue

and deepest purple. The wind ruffles, the tall pine trees, and the owls hoot drowsily to one

another as they wake up from their daytime sleep.

The sound of the wind plays a quiet duet with the rippling and splashing of a clear mountain stream.

It's a beautiful, cool, clear night, and it's time for the dragon to get ready for a good night's sleep.

Inside the dragon's cozy cave, the embers of a warm fire glow brightly in the fireplace.

The red-gold light of the fire flickers on the smooth stone walls of the cave. The light glints and glimmers on piles

of gold coins and jewels and other stray bits of treasure. Beautiful embroidered tapestries are

draped over the stalagmites that reach up from the floor of the cave.

A dragon always surrounds themselves with their most prized possessions.

Outside the cave on Dragon Mountain, the owls have flown down into the deep green forests to hunt

and hoot their gossip to one another. The bears are snug in their den, sleeping piled together,

and snoring like an avalanche. The bats that roost in the mountain's nooks and crannies come soaring out. Roost in the mountains nooks and crannies come soaring out into the night air.

A dragon must follow a lengthy bedtime routine, or they will wake up stiff, sore, grouchy,

and with a mouth that tastes like burned toast and yesterday's socks.

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