Sammy the Squirrel Learns to Live in Today - A Children's Story

Sammy the Squirrel Learns to Live in Today

By Bill Conley—America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story:

Worrying about tomorrow makes us anxious, but tomorrow hasn’t even happened yet.
Holding on to the past weighs us down, but yesterday cannot be changed. The happiest children are those who learn to live in the present, enjoying today as it is. When we stay in the moment, we feel calmer, lighter, and freer. The past can be released with forgiveness, the future can be faced with courage, but today can be lived with joy.
Every moment is a gift, and when we are present, we don’t miss it. Learning tools to calm our nerves—like breathing, talking, and focusing on one thing at a time—helps us live fully in today. Children who live one day at a time discover peace, strength, and happiness right where they are.

In a tall oak tree at the edge of the meadow lived Sammy the Squirrel. Sammy was cheerful and playful, but he had a problem: he worried too much.

At night, he would lie in his nest and whisper, “What if I don’t gather enough acorns for winter? What if it rains tomorrow and I can’t play? What if my friends laugh at me?”

And during the day, when he made a mistake—like dropping an acorn or tripping over his tail—he kept thinking, “Why did I do that? Everyone must think I’m silly.”

All this worrying made Sammy’s heart feel heavy.

One morning, Miss Owl noticed Sammy sitting sadly on a branch.

“What’s wrong, little squirrel?” she asked kindly.

“I’m worried about tomorrow’s nut-hunting race,” Sammy admitted. “What if I lose? And I’m still embarrassed about falling yesterday. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Miss Owl fluffed her feathers. “Sammy, you are carrying yesterday in one paw and tomorrow in the other. No wonder you feel so heavy—you’ve forgotten about today.”

Sammy tilted his head. “But how do I let go of the past? And how do I stop worrying about tomorrow?”

Miss Owl gave him a wise smile. “I’ll teach you three tools. With these, you can live in today.”

Tool One: Take a Deep Breath

“First,” Miss Owl said, “when your heart feels anxious, stop and take three deep breaths. Breathing calms your body and reminds you to be here, right now.”

Sammy tried. He breathed in slowly, filling his chest, then let it out. In… out. In… out.

“Wow,” he said. “I feel a little calmer already.”

Tool Two: Speak the Truth

“Second,” Miss Owl continued, “when worries about the future come, say to yourself, ‘That hasn’t happened yet. I will live today.’”

Sammy practiced. “Tomorrow hasn’t happened yet. I will live today.”

The worry about the nut race felt lighter.

 Tool Three: Focus on One Joy

“Finally,” Miss Owl said, “when your mind is stuck in the past, choose one thing in the present to focus on. Look at the beauty around you, or enjoy something small, like the taste of a nut or the sound of a friend’s laughter.”

Sammy looked around. He noticed the golden sunlight sparkling on the leaves. He heard children playing below. He tasted a crunchy acorn.

“This feels… wonderful,” he whispered.

The next day, the nut-hunting race arrived. Sammy’s tummy churned. “What if I lose?” he thought.

Then he remembered. Breathe. In… out. In… out.
He told himself, “That hasn’t happened yet. I will live today.”
Then he focused on the moment—the sound of paws scampering, the feel of the breeze, the fun of the game.

Sammy ran and laughed, enjoying the race. He didn’t even notice who won—he only noticed that he felt free.

That evening, he sat in his nest and remembered how he had once worried about falling yesterday. “But that was the past,” he said aloud. “I learned from it, and now it’s gone.”

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered, “Today was a good day.”

From then on, Sammy carried his three tools everywhere:

• Breathe deeply when anxious.
• Say the truth: ‘Tomorrow hasn’t happened yet.’
• Focus on one joy in the present.

And day by day, he discovered that living in today was the best gift of all.

 Moral of the story poem:

Yesterday’s gone, tomorrow’s not here,
Today is the gift that we hold dear.
Breathe in deeply, let worries fade,
Live in the moment; don’t be afraid.
The past is behind, the future unknown,
Today is the time we call our own.
One day at a time, calm and free,
The present is where we’re meant to be.

Discussion Questions:

1.     What were the three tools Miss Owl gave Sammy to help with his worries?

2.     Why can holding on to the past or worrying about tomorrow make us feel heavy?

3.     What is one way you can live more in the present today?