The Adventures of Flossy Bunny
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Hello!
My name is Flossy Bunny. I live in a place where there are many different animals, but we all have similar emotions and feelings. It doesn’t matter how we look on the outside, but how we treat each other and feel on the inside. I hope you enjoy my story, it's about how I began to understand why people call me, Flossy “The Feel Better” Bunny. Maybe, you can think of a story in your life that is similar to mine and write your own story. with love and gratitude, Flossy |
Floosy, The Feel Better Bunny
Originally hand-crafted by participants of the Empowerment Program in Denver, CO.
Flossy was created by Joycee Kennedy, LCSW, BCD.
Flossy was created by Joycee Kennedy, LCSW, BCD.
The Adventures of Flossy Bunny
Chapter I
Meeting Socrates
I have a teacher at school with a very strange name, Socrates.
It sounds like “sock-ra-tees”.
They are very smart and kind, and I like to talk with them about a lot of things,
especially my feelings and emotions.
One day at school, I asked my teacher about their name. “How did you get your funny name, Socrates?”
Socrates replied, “My parents were school teachers, and Socrates was their favorite teacher and philosopher. I have learned a lot about Socrates over the years and I have learned a lot about myself in the process”.
They continued explaining to Flossy what they felt was important about the teachings of Socrates and why they were proud to carry the name forward from ancient history.
“About 450 years before the birth of Jesus,
Socrates taught us the importance of
holding two important ideas
at the same time
that seem opposite of each other.
For instance, you may not want to go to school
because you want to go to the park and play with your friends,
this can represent one idea.
A second important idea that you may have
is you should to go to school because
you need to learn and grow as a young bunny.”
“Oh, I get it", said Flossy
"Sometimes I don’t want to eat my vegetables,
but my mom says that I need to eat them if
I want to grow up and stay healthy.
I love playing outside
and feeling healthy,
so I eat my vegetables,
even the radishes!”
“That’s right!" replied Socrates,
"Sometimes we make decisions to do the thing
that is best for ourselves,
and everyone else around us.
Sometimes our decisions effect more than just us.
The way we act and treat people
can affect everyone around us.”
“Sometimes we see others being hurt or feeling sad.
There are things we can do to help,
or we can find a helper,
someone like an adult we trust who can help.
We are never really alone,
asking for help can make us feel better.”
“I do that all the time” said Flossy.
“I think I’m pretty good at noticing
if someone is feeling good, or feeling sad.
Sometimes I see Bobby Goat
bullying Linus Lamb on the playground.
I can tell that Linus is being hurt by Bobby,
but I can also see that Bobby is feeling hurt too.
I don’t know what to do, but I know I want to help.
I can see how it makes everyone sad around us."
“Flossy, you carry healthy feelings
and you don’t even know it
because the feelings are so light.
Think about having these feelings toward yourself
as well as others forever.
We don’t feel all of our feelings and emotions at once,
but how and when we feel them is up to us.
Think about holding in your paws,
feelings that make you feel happy;
these are your HEALTHY feelings.
Hold those feelings close to your heart
and know they are with you always."
HEALTHY FEELINGS
Flossy took a long, slow breath, and said, "It makes me feel good to help my friends and family. I do my best, hoping that what I do or say will comfort them. Sometimes I just sit next to them and listen, because sometimes I don’t know the words to say. People like it when I listen to them. Sometimes I feel sad, lonely, and frustrated. My friends get sad sometimes too. I think I am pretty good at noticing if someone is feeling good or feeling sad. It’s good to talk about my feelings with someone I trust."
"Flossy, that's wonderful to hear" said the teacher, "I'm happy to hear that you have people in your life who you can talk with. Be kind to yourself, because sometimes we make choices that make us feel uncomfortable later, like not sharing the jump rope or saying a mean thing to Mom when you are feeling frustrated. A thoughtful 'I'm sorry' goes a long way. Most important of all, if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, it's important to talk with someone you trust."
"I do, thanks for meeting with me today. I always feel better after we talk." said Flossy
Flossy and Socrates both smiled, and agreed that they both felt better.
to be continued...
Questions:
- How many of these HEALTHY Feelings do you feel?
- Do you feel sad or frustrated sometimes?
- Are you good at noticing if someone else is feeling sad or hurt?
- What do you do when someone close to you is feeling sad or hurt?
- Do you like when people listen to you? How does that make you feel?
- Do you listen to people when they are talking with you?
- Do you have someone who you like to talk with about your feelings and emotions? WHO? WHY?
It sounds like “sock-ra-tees”.
They are very smart and kind, and I like to talk with them about a lot of things,
especially my feelings and emotions.
One day at school, I asked my teacher about their name. “How did you get your funny name, Socrates?”
Socrates replied, “My parents were school teachers, and Socrates was their favorite teacher and philosopher. I have learned a lot about Socrates over the years and I have learned a lot about myself in the process”.
They continued explaining to Flossy what they felt was important about the teachings of Socrates and why they were proud to carry the name forward from ancient history.
“About 450 years before the birth of Jesus,
Socrates taught us the importance of
holding two important ideas
at the same time
that seem opposite of each other.
For instance, you may not want to go to school
because you want to go to the park and play with your friends,
this can represent one idea.
A second important idea that you may have
is you should to go to school because
you need to learn and grow as a young bunny.”
“Oh, I get it", said Flossy
"Sometimes I don’t want to eat my vegetables,
but my mom says that I need to eat them if
I want to grow up and stay healthy.
I love playing outside
and feeling healthy,
so I eat my vegetables,
even the radishes!”
“That’s right!" replied Socrates,
"Sometimes we make decisions to do the thing
that is best for ourselves,
and everyone else around us.
Sometimes our decisions effect more than just us.
The way we act and treat people
can affect everyone around us.”
“Sometimes we see others being hurt or feeling sad.
There are things we can do to help,
or we can find a helper,
someone like an adult we trust who can help.
We are never really alone,
asking for help can make us feel better.”
“I do that all the time” said Flossy.
“I think I’m pretty good at noticing
if someone is feeling good, or feeling sad.
Sometimes I see Bobby Goat
bullying Linus Lamb on the playground.
I can tell that Linus is being hurt by Bobby,
but I can also see that Bobby is feeling hurt too.
I don’t know what to do, but I know I want to help.
I can see how it makes everyone sad around us."
“Flossy, you carry healthy feelings
and you don’t even know it
because the feelings are so light.
Think about having these feelings toward yourself
as well as others forever.
We don’t feel all of our feelings and emotions at once,
but how and when we feel them is up to us.
Think about holding in your paws,
feelings that make you feel happy;
these are your HEALTHY feelings.
Hold those feelings close to your heart
and know they are with you always."
HEALTHY FEELINGS
- Kindness
being friendly, generous, and considerate - Tenderness
being gentle and kind - Love
having concern for the good of others - Caring
shows kindness and concern for others - Charitableness
helping those in need - Empathy
the ability to understand and share the feelings of others - Warmth
Showing enthusiasm, affection, and kindness - Softheartedness
feeling concerned for the well-being of others - Compassion
showing kindness, caring, and a willingness to help others - Gentleness
being kind and tender
Flossy took a long, slow breath, and said, "It makes me feel good to help my friends and family. I do my best, hoping that what I do or say will comfort them. Sometimes I just sit next to them and listen, because sometimes I don’t know the words to say. People like it when I listen to them. Sometimes I feel sad, lonely, and frustrated. My friends get sad sometimes too. I think I am pretty good at noticing if someone is feeling good or feeling sad. It’s good to talk about my feelings with someone I trust."
"Flossy, that's wonderful to hear" said the teacher, "I'm happy to hear that you have people in your life who you can talk with. Be kind to yourself, because sometimes we make choices that make us feel uncomfortable later, like not sharing the jump rope or saying a mean thing to Mom when you are feeling frustrated. A thoughtful 'I'm sorry' goes a long way. Most important of all, if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, it's important to talk with someone you trust."
"I do, thanks for meeting with me today. I always feel better after we talk." said Flossy
Flossy and Socrates both smiled, and agreed that they both felt better.
to be continued...
Questions:
- How many of these HEALTHY Feelings do you feel?
- Do you feel sad or frustrated sometimes?
- Are you good at noticing if someone else is feeling sad or hurt?
- What do you do when someone close to you is feeling sad or hurt?
- Do you like when people listen to you? How does that make you feel?
- Do you listen to people when they are talking with you?
- Do you have someone who you like to talk with about your feelings and emotions? WHO? WHY?
Joycee Kennedy, LCSW, LCD and Laura Schneider
