108 • PART II: MINDFULNESS IN EDUCATING FOR SELF-REGULATION AND ENGAGEMENT
and letting go (Cook-Cottone, 2015). During this process, allow yourself to release every
muscle in your body (Hanh, 1975). According to Hanh (1975), relaxation is a necessary point
to commence meditation. The story that follows was inspired by Hanh (1975) and originally
created for Cook-Cottone (2015).
To introduce this in class, it can be fun to give each student a small pebble and a per-
manent marker. Have them create their own meditating pebble with a gentle half smile
(Instructional Photograph 6.2). They can place the pebble on their desk or hold it in their
hands while they breathe softly and listen to the story.
INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTOGRAPH 6.2: THE MEDITATING PEBBLE
Photographer: Catherine Cook-Cottone.
Note: When telling the story, it is good to explain to the younger children that the Meditating Pebble is like the
cartoon characters that live underwater: It too can breathe.
INSTRUCTIONAL STORy 6.2: THE MEDITATING PEBBLE
Approximate timing: 2 minutes for introduction; 5 minutes for practice
Imagine that you are a little pebble. You have been gently tossed into a river. You are a little pebble in
the water, and pebbles like water. The water is just the right temperature. You feel calm and happy. You
safely sink down through the water without effort. As a pebble, you are free from everything (no home-
work, no tests, no practice); you can just watch and let go and gently float down to the bottom of the riv-
erbed. You are at the point of complete relaxation there on the bed of the river. It does not matter how long
it took you to fall or how far you fell to get there on the riverbed. Once you reach the riverbed, you have
found your own special place to relax. Here, you are no longer pushed or pulled by the water or anything
else. You can just watch as the river and all that is in it—fish, leaves, and water bugs—float by.
At the bottom of the river, you are at the point of perfect relaxation. It feels cozy and soft. You can let
go of everything. Being a special kind of pebble, you can breathe under the water. At the very center of you
is your breath. You gently breathe in and out, noticing how comfortable and calm you feel. You breathe
in and out slowly and softly, feeling and watching the water drift by and letting go of everything else.
(continued )