Unfortunately, sometimes people hurt each other. Sometimes they don’t mean to, but sometimes they do. Maybe you’ve seen a bully being mean to someone else and hurting their feelings, or maybe someone has hurt you. It could have even been someone you care about. You may sometimes feel like Herby, who is being attacked by a neighborhood cat that is not interested in leaving him alone and letting him have his space!
When people are mean and hurt you, how do you feel? What should you do when they hurt you? Have you ever hurt others yourself?
When someone does something to hurt someone else or their feelings, that is wrong. Everybody needs space to be safe, respected and loved. If someone wants to hurt you, remember that they need to be loved too, but they should not hurt you. If you aren’t able to stand up to them yourself, get some help from friends and people you trust. Never be a bully yourself. With help you can protect yourself and stop hurtful people from invading your “personal space.”
People are all around you. Some people you know, and some you don’t. Some may be part of your family, like parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, and relatives. Some are your friends, and some are your neighbors, teachers, and other people in your school and community. People are important. They can help each other, love each other, and have fun together. And as Herby and Jeremy find out, they can even build a tree house together.
Do you ever feel lonely? How are other people important and helpful to you? How can you be helpful to them?
We all need other people in our lives. It is important to have family and friends and be a part of a community that is made up of different people that interact, cooperate, and help each other. Think about the other people that are around you and how you can help them, because life is better when you can “do it together!”
Think about relaxing at a beach. Soft sand between your toes, the warm sun on your skin, cool breezes, crashing waves, and sparkling water. The beach can be a relaxing, refreshing, and exciting place to be. Life may not always feel that way, as there’s plenty to cause us aggravation and stress: work, school, activities, other people, our own hopes and fears. But Herby imagines that life, like a beach, really can be enjoyable if we embrace all it has to offer.
Do you find yourself drained and weighed down by the stresses of life? What would it be like to be re-energized, refreshed, and full of excitement again? What could you do to get there?
Sometimes life doesn’t seem very fun, and we can find ourselves in a rut. Maybe you can’t necessarily take a vacation to the beach, but try taking a step back from your ordinary routine to rest and recharge. Look for new experiences to re-awaken your senses and replenish your energy. Don’t settle for a life that’s dull and unexciting. Life is yours for the living, so “get out there and enjoy it!”
Think of a song that you really like, or a work of art that you have seen that you thought was amazing. Many people have a favorite book or movie they enjoy. Perhaps you have seen people perform a play or a dance. And maybe you even enjoy drawing, painting, writing poetry or stories, singing, playing a musical instrument, or dancing yourself! Herby enjoys listening to the chickadee quartet sing moving, melodious music.
Have you ever been touched and inspired by music or some other form of art? How do you feel when you are enjoying it or have the opportunity to express yourself this way?
The arts can touch people in a way nothing else can. Art enriches our lives and gives people meaning, excitement, and joy. It helps us understand each other and the world, and even helps improve learning, behavior, and social ties. It communicates with the heart of people, and without it our world would be a rather dreary place. Music and the arts carry us higher and farther than we could ever go without it, truly “like wings for the soul.”
Often there are tasks we need or want to do that can seem difficult to accomplish. You may find it hard to finish projects, achieve your dreams, or simply take care of the daily responsibilities of life. Jeremy wants to build a treehouse with Herby, but when he looks up at the gigantic tree, it seems overwhelming—even impossible—and he wonders how it will ever get done.
Have you ever tried to do something and weren’t sure where to start or if you would ever get it done? Did you ever feel like giving up? How would you feel if you didn’t have to do it all at once but were able to accomplish it a little bit at a time?
While you may not be able to do everything you want, there are many things you can do but that will be difficult because of obstacles you will need to overcome. It can be easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged by a goal or project if you only see all the work that needs to be done. Instead, start with something small and take it one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to accomplishing your goal. Little by little, you can achieve great things and build success in your life, “one nail at a time!”
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