Cyrus and His 5 Senses

In math class, Cyrus felt a big worry when a hard math question appeared. He thought, 'I am not smart' and 'I'll never be good at school.' His mind was filled with swirling numbers and confusing signs. Soon, his heart raced and he began to shake as anxiety took over.

Suddenly, Mr. A walked over and gently sat next to Cyrus. He softly asked, 'Tell me 5 things you can see,' like the ground, a tie, some fingernails, a pencil, and a green poster on the wall. Then he said, 'Now, tell me 4 things you can touch,' such as your other hand, your pants, the zipper on your sweater, and the carpet. Next, he continued with, 'Listen for 3 things you can hear,' like my voice, soft music from another room, and the ticking of the classroom clock. Finally, he asked Cyrus to name 2 things he could smell and 1 thing he could taste, reminding him of a pineapple-scented pencil and a breakfast burrito from earlier.

As Cyrus shared and explored each sense, he felt his worries slowly fade away. His deep breaths steadied his racing heart and eased the nervous shaking. Mr. A listened kindly as Cyrus explained his fears and confusion. Together, they took a quiet walk to get some water and talk more about his feelings. Cyrus realized he had a special way to find calm even when everything seemed too hard.

Later that day, in science class, challenging questions made his mind busy again. Yet, Cyrus remembered his five senses and paused to take a deep, steady breath. He looked around, touched his desk, listened to the ticking clock, smelled a gentle aroma nearby, and recalled the taste of his breakfast burrito. This simple exercise helped him feel brave and ready to face the new challenge. Cyrus learned that by using his senses, he could guide himself through any tough moment.