1 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, and welcome to sleep Tight Stories. This story 2 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: is about a girl named Mary. Mary loves math and 3 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: knows that she will be a great mathematician someday. She 4 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: works very hard every day, but after a while feels 5 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: like she doesn't know what she wants to do anymore. 6 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: She talks to her tutor about this, and Miss Ross 7 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: decides how she can best help Mary with this problem. 8 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Mary's dream. Many years ago, in a far off land, 9 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: there lived a young girl who was destined to be 10 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: the greatest mathematician the world had ever known. She knew 11 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 1: this because her teacher told her so, and her mother 12 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: told her so, and her father told her so. Her 13 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: name was Mary, and her days were filled with school 14 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: work and study. Her nights were filled with dreams. She 15 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: lived in a small house in a small city, underneath 16 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: the cover of lovely, lush trees that blossomed with flowers 17 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: each year in the spring to announce the coming of summer. 18 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: She lived in the house with her mother and father, 19 00:01:53,880 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: a small beagle, a Tabby, and a fish called Charlie. 20 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: Her older brother had left home that year to attend university, 21 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:13,359 Speaker 1: but was now backpacking all around the world. Every week, 22 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: she would wait for her brother's letters and postcards to arrive, 23 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: which always included pictures of exotic places and stories telling 24 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: of his adventures. Mary missed her big brother very much. 25 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: This day was much like any other. At six thirty am, 26 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: her beagle, Hilbert, jumps up on her bed to wake 27 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: her by licking her face until it was a gooey mess. 28 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: She then washes, brushes her teeth, gets dressed, and is 29 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: sitting at the kitchen table By six forty five. Her father, 30 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: who works from home, always has her breakfast prepared, a 31 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: boiled egg, oatmeal, tea, and some nuts. Mary doesn't like 32 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: the oatmeal very much, but she loves tea. Her mother 33 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: will then walk over and give her a kiss on 34 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: the cheek as she goes out the door, coffee in 35 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: hand to begin her long commute to her office. By 36 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: seven point fifteen, Mary and her father are in the 37 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: car so that she can be dropped off for early 38 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: morning band practice. Her father says structure is very important, 39 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: but Mary thinks that a little change some excitement might 40 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: be better. After band practice, Mary attends a number of 41 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: classes in math science and a couple required classes in 42 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: the arts. She loves her creative writing class, as her teacher, 43 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: Missus McDonald, would also ask that the students use their 44 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: imagination to create something fantastic and new. It was scary 45 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: looking at a blank page. Math was comforting in its 46 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: rules and logic, but Mary always enjoys writing about far 47 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: off places that she hasn't visited yet, places with strange animals, 48 00:04:54,000 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: different smells, lots of color, and no oatmeal. After school, 49 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: Mary would be tutored in math by a professor from 50 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: the university. She liked Miss Ross as she always presented 51 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: problems with such enthusiasm and thought all the world's problems 52 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 1: could be solved by equations. After her class with Miss Ross, 53 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: it was home for dinner at six. It was always six, 54 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: and dinner was often somewhat the same, a meat, a vegetable, 55 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: and a starch. After dinner, it was homework and math practice. 56 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: While her days were very busy, the time just before 57 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: sleep was hers to enjoy as she wished. She loved 58 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 1: to read stories about adventurers or stories about far off places. 59 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 1: Many nights she would look at the postcards and letters 60 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: her brother had sent her from the many places he 61 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: had traveled to. He didn't say much, but in the 62 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:29,039 Speaker 1: last note he told her to follow her dreams. She 63 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: thinks about what he said a lot, But while she 64 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: would lay there and daydream about all the places that 65 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: her brother went, she seemed to be more and more 66 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: confused about her dream. What is my dream? She would 67 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: think to herself. All I do is study math and 68 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: follow the dreams of others. What do I want to do? 69 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: It used to be very clear, but lately not so much. 70 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: This is a question, she would often ask Hilbert. But 71 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: though Hilbert was only a dog, he often gave the 72 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: best advice. Go outside and play, he would answer, Or 73 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: go for a walk. Hilbert wouldn't say this literally, of course, 74 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: but whenever Mary asked him any questions, he would immediately bark, excitedly, 75 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: run and grab his leash in his mouth, and prance 76 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: at her bedroom door. His ideas usually worked out well, 77 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: as Mary always felt better after taking a break from 78 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: studying to go outside for a walk, the ball for Hilbert, 79 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: or do simply breathe in the smell of the trees. 80 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: Mary decided that she would ask miss Ross tomorrow how 81 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: to rediscover her dream. Who better to ask than an 82 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: expert problem solver, she thought, So, Mary, do you have 83 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: any questions about the material we covered today, or do 84 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: you have a problem you would like us to work on, 85 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: asked Miss Ross. Well, Mary hesitated, I do have a 86 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: problem that I would like to work on with you, 87 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 1: but it might be too silly or simple. Nothing is 88 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: too silly or simple, and sometimes the simplest problems are 89 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: the hardest to solve, said Miss Ross. Okay, Well, I 90 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: don't know what my dreams are anymore, said Mary quietly. 91 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: What do you mean, Mary? Can you define the problem 92 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: more clearly, asked Miss Ross. I mean every day I 93 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: do the same thing. I do the things that other 94 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: people ask me to do, and though I love working 95 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:33,319 Speaker 1: with numbers and solving problems, I don't really know what 96 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: my dreams are, said Mary. You once told me that 97 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: you spent time in the evening reading books, or looking 98 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: at your brother's letters, or simply daydreaming about far off places, 99 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: said Miss Ross, somewhat puzzled. Yes, I still do that. Okay, 100 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: so you mean you don't know what your purpose is? 101 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: Could that be it, asked miss miss Ross. I guess so, 102 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: said Mary quietly. One of my goals of our sessions 103 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: together is to unlock the power and beauty of mathematics 104 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: and enable you to enter this magical world the way 105 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: I did. I can't speak for your parents, but maybe 106 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: we have forgotten to check in with you as to 107 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:36,359 Speaker 1: how you feel and what you want. Miss Ross continued, 108 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: I have an idea, but I'll have to check with 109 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: your parents first. The next day, when Mary came to 110 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: study with Miss Ross, she noticed that Miss Ross was 111 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: dressed more casually than normal and had her coat on. 112 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: You can leave your jacket on, Mary, we are going 113 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: for a walk, she said. Outside Miss Ross's office was 114 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: a large park full of trees, paths, and in summer, 115 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: beautiful flowers. Let's go for a walk through the trees. Mary. 116 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: When we first met, you used to tell me how 117 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: you loved math and hoped that you could solve the 118 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: world's problems through mathematics. That was a wonderful dream, and 119 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 1: you truly have a talent for solving problems. We do 120 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: sometimes get stumped by the simplest things, and sometimes we 121 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: need to take a rest and try something different so 122 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: that we can see problems with fresh eyes and maybe 123 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: get some new ideas. Some of the best ideas come 124 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: when you least expect them, when you are not even 125 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: thinking about them. Sometimes we need to change our routine 126 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: a little, and you have been working so hard. We 127 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: all need to rest from time to time, said miss Ross. 128 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: I don't think my dad would agree with that. Mary said, oh, 129 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: I'm sure he would. He is one of the most 130 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: creative people I have ever met, and we all just 131 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: want to give you the opportunity to live your dreams, 132 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: no matter what they are. You have a talent and 133 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 1: a love for math, but you are smart enough to 134 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: do whatever you set your mind to. Over the following 135 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: days and weeks, Mary and miss Ross would go for walks, 136 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 1: visit art galleries, museums, see movies at the cineplex, or 137 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: sometimes just sit and listen to music, even the music 138 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 1: that Mary liked. Sometimes Miss Ross would send her home 139 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: with a book to read, or allow her the time 140 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: to do whatever she pleased. After a few weeks, Miss 141 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: Ross asked Mary how she was doing. During their previous meetings, 142 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: They didn't talk about Mary's dreams or lack thereof, and 143 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: focused only on the activity they had planned for the day. 144 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: I think maybe you were right. I was kind of bored, 145 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: and these last couple of weeks have been great. My 146 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: dad even changed our breakfasts in the morning, Mary said, 147 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: with more energy than before. Mary continued, when I was 148 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: listening to music, I just suddenly realized that I want 149 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: to see more of the world like my brother, maybe 150 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: have adventures, do something more. Then his latest postcard came 151 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: and he said that he was going back to school. 152 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: That traveling was fun and changed his perspective on many things, 153 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: but it was time for him to return to his studies. 154 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: He thinks he can use his education to help the 155 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: people he met when traveling. But when I went for 156 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: a walk with Hilbert, another idea came to me. I 157 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: realized that I still love math, and maybe math can 158 00:14:54,760 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: help me to see the world. Well, I think you 159 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: have found the solution to your problem. You don't need 160 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: to have just one dream or one way to realize 161 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: your dream. You can do many things. You can accomplish 162 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: anything you set your mind to. From now on, whenever 163 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: you feel you have lost your dream, take a break, 164 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: rest and try some new things. You might find that 165 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: that is just what you need. And if you discover 166 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: something new, then that's okay too. Mary took these words 167 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: to heart and realized that it was very true and 168 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: that's the end of our story. Good Night, sleep tight.