Once upon a time, in a land filled with shimmering rivers and trees that sang sweet songs, lived a little Seed. This little Seed was very small, smaller than your thumb, tiny even compared to a ladybug’s spot! He lived nestled snugly in the earth, dark and damp, with only the soft murmur of the earthworms for company. He felt… well, a little bit gloomy. He was all alone, surrounded by darkness, and he didn't know what would happen next.

He missed the warmth of the sun, the bright colours of the flowers he’d seen peeking through the soil before he'd been planted. He felt a little bit like he was stuck, like he’d never see the light again. He had a tiny, little whisper of a feeling that maybe, just maybe, something wonderful might happen, but it was very faint, like a candle flickering in a strong wind.

One day, a tiny drop of water trickled past him. “Hello,” whispered the Seed. The water chuckled, a sound like tiny bells. “Hello yourself, little Seed! Are you feeling a little… down?”

The Seed sighed. “Yes,” he confessed. “I feel stuck and gloomy. I don't think I'll ever see the sun again.”

The water chuckled again. “Oh, but you will! Don’t you remember the warmth you felt before? The feeling of being nurtured and cared for? That's hope, little Seed. It's that tiny, warm feeling inside that tells you good things are possible, even when things seem dark.”

The Seed thought about this. He did remember that warmth, that feeling of being carefully placed in the soil, ready for something amazing. But the darkness had made it hard to remember.

“But how do I keep that feeling?” he asked the water.

“Hope grows, just like you will,” said the water. “It needs nourishment, just like you do. It grows stronger when you remember all the good things that have happened to you. Remember the sunshine you felt before? Remember how the wind gently blew? Those are happy memories, little seeds of hope!”

The water then told the Seed a story. "Imagine a tiny creature, smaller than even you, that lives deep within the earth. It spends its entire life digging tunnels. It doesn’t see the sun, but it knows the sun exists. It knows because the warmth reaches even down there, and because it feels the earth tremble when the wind blows across the surface. This creature has hope – hope that even though it lives in darkness, it plays a vital role. Its tunnels help the water to flow and the air to reach the roots of the plants, helping them grow. It's hope that keeps it working hard, even though it never sees the reward directly."

The Seed listened intently. He thought about the tiny creature and how it had hope, even in the darkness. He realised that he, too, had something to do, something important. He was meant to grow! He was meant to become a strong plant, to bloom beautiful flowers and offer shade to others. That thought warmed him.

The water continued, “Hope isn't just about big things, little Seed. It's about the small, everyday things too. It's about knowing that tomorrow is a new day, a chance to try again, a chance for something wonderful to happen. It's like eating a delicious meal, making a new friend, or hearing a beautiful song—all these little things nurture our hope.”

Days turned into weeks. The water continued to visit the Seed, sharing more stories, encouraging him to remember the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze. The Seed, remembering these happy memories and the purpose of its own existence, felt the tiny flame of hope grow stronger and stronger. It pushed and pushed against the darkness, and eventually, it pushed through the soil.

He felt the warmth of the sun on his face for the first time in what felt like forever. It was glorious! The light was so bright, so beautiful. He felt the gentle breeze caress his leaves. He saw the colorful flowers nearby, just like the water had described. And he felt… hope! A big, bright, warm feeling of hope, stronger than ever before. He knew, with absolute certainty, that he would bloom, he would grow tall and strong, and he would share his beauty with the world.

And that, little one, is why we feel hopeful. Hope is that warm, happy feeling inside that tells us good things are possible, even when things seem dark. It grows stronger when we remember happy memories and focus on our purpose. It’s nurtured by the little things, and it helps us to keep going, even when things are tough. So remember to look for the sunshine, even on cloudy days, because hope is always there, waiting to be discovered. Now, what happy memory do you want to remember? Let's talk about it!