Ella Talked – Zen Story
Ella loves to talk. But what happens when her words suddenly disappear? Join Ella in this zen story, as she wanders into a mysterious forest in search of her voice – and finds an unexpected surprise. Read Feel-Good Stories by Jack and Kitty for free every weekday.
Ella Talked – Zen Story
Ella liked to talk. She talked and talked, talking to anyone who would listen. People closed their ears and turned their backs, and Ella kept speaking, sending her words out in the air.
Ella walked, Ella talked, and Ella kept voicing her words. She carried the music of her stories in her heart, sending them out to anyone who had ears to hear.
And then one day, the unthinkable happened. Ella had talked so much, that she had run out of words. The sentences would no longer come, and her voice would no longer dance across her lips.
Ella had talked until she could talk no more.
Maybe, I’m talking to the wrong crowd, she thought. Maybe, if I speak to people in another city, my voice will escape my lips and the stories and words will find their way out again. So Ella walked, miles and miles, through prairies and fields, across streams and borders, finding herself in a different place, far beyond her city.
She opened her mouth to speak, and nothing came out.
So Ella decided to try something new. Tired of her inability to speak, Ella walked on, seeking a place where no one would notice her silenced voice.
So she walked some more, past borders and streams, beyond fields and prairies, until she arrived at a magical forest.
This forest looked like any other, but Ella knew it was special. In this vast expanse of green and brown, no one would realize her secret – she could no longer talk. Here, she could hide, and no one would suspect that she had lost her words.
Ella sat down, her voice no longer able to carry the words she longed to say. She had talked until there were no words left. Now, in this vast new expanse, Ella realized she enjoyed sitting. So, she sat and sat, silent. As she did, something unthinkable happened. Her worries, one by one, began to fade away.
There, in the heart of the forest, Ella discovered something special.
The forest itself was speaking.
The words spilled out into the air, like letters on a page. The soft breeze carried the forest’s voice across the wind, tickling Ella’s eardrums.
“Pfff!” it blew, “pfff-ing” its way past Ella’s ears.
The poplar leaves danced in a cascade of whispers, rustling on the breath of the forest.
“Shhhk!” they shook, “Shhhk-ing” their way up and down on the branches.
Sunlight shone through the tree gaps, playing bright pictures of light and shadow on the ground.
“Ping!” it shined, “ping-ing” its way across the dirt.
A stream in the distance called out, its gurgles flowing softly. It sang a lullaby of peaceful serenity.
“Gurpp!” it bubbled, “gurpp-ing” its way down the brook.
Ella felt peace wash over her as she listened to the forest talk.
Ella smiled, happy to hear the forest. Even though she had run out of words she was comforted by the forest’s stories.
Soon Ella was sleepy and decided to lie down for a nap. The crunch of twigs and leaves beneath her head created a pillow, their whispers lulling her to sleep.
When Ella awoke, it was dark out. The forest was still talking, reciting its words, telling a midnight story to her hungry ears. The moon cast a bluish-white spotlight on the ground near her feet. It illuminated the stillness of the forest in a magical light. The stars peeked through the trees, and the mist hung like a heavy curtain, draping the air in a translucent shawl.
Ella smiled.
Moisture tickled Ella’s nostrils as she took an invigorating sniff of air.
Ella knew that even though she had run out of words, she could always come back to this magical place to hear its voice.
She liked this place, this forest that told stories to soothe her soul.
Though sad about losing her words, Ella felt understood by the forest that told stories.
As she prepared to leave, she instinctively opened her mouth to say goodbye.
“Goodbye, forest. Thank you for telling me your stories!” Her voice rang through the trees. Ella gasped, amazed to hear her voice spill out beyond her lips.
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She could talk! Her voice had again found its words!
“Thank you, forest,” she whispered, her heart swelling with love for this place full of life and stories. Ella was amazed. The forest had brought her words back again, beyond the confines of her imagination.
So Ella talked again, telling her tales of wonder and love as she walked out of the forest’s green and brown expanse. She walked faster now, her heart alive with a sense of purpose, full of stories to share with the world.
Ella talked, and Ella walked until she arrived back at the city where she lived.
Ella liked to talk. She talked and talked, talking to anyone who would listen. People opened their ears and turned towards her, and Ella kept speaking, sending her words out in the air.
Ella walked, Ella talked, and Ella kept voicing her words. She carried the music of her stories in her heart, sending them out to anyone who had ears to hear.
And then one day, the unthinkable happened. Ella had talked so much, that she realized she would never run out of words. The sentences would always come, and her voice would forever dance across her lips.
Ella had talked until her heart was overflowing with love for all.
Written by Kitty Norton. © 2024 Jack and Kitty Norton. Reprinted by permission of Jack and Kitty Media Group. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
