Our experience in life depends a good deal on how we view things. It can be easy to see things in a negative way. Maybe you are sad you don’t have something you want, you are unhappy that you aren’t able to do the things you want to do, or you find yourself discouraged and worried things won’t work out. Red sees the birdfeeder and is concerned that half of the bird food is gone, but Herby looks at the same birdfeeder and reminds him that there’s still quite a lot of food left.

Are there things in your life that seem bad or depressing? What are some positive things in your life? Do you feel better when you think about the negative things or the positive things?

It’s okay to feel bad sometimes, but only thinking about what’s wrong and failing to see what’s good saps our joy and energy. If we focus on the positive side of life instead, we become appreciative and encouraged. Even if things don’t work out the way we want them to, we can view it as an opportunity to learn and grow. So when you feel half empty, look again, because you may actually be “half full.”

We all have things that we own and value. From food and clothes to toys and games and even cars and houses, there are many things that people are given as gifts or that they work hard and save up money to buy. Perhaps Jeremy saved up his allowance to buy himself a pet fish, only to discover one day to his dismay that his fish has disappeared, and it suspiciously looks as though a certain fish-eating parrot helped himself to a snack of Jeremy’s prized possession.

What are some things that you own and value? How would you feel if someone took something that belonged to you without your permission and either broke it, lost it, or never gave it back? Do you think others would feel the same way if you took the things that belonged to them without getting their permission?

It’s wrong when we steal and take things that don’t belong to us when the person who owns them doesn’t want to give them away. If you want something that belongs to someone else, whether it’s your brother’s toy, your friend’s video game, someone else’s money, or a candy bar you see in a store, ask them for it and pay for it if you have to. You’ll be doing the right thing, respecting other people, and staying out of trouble instead of doing “something awfully fishy.”

Springtime is an amazing and wonderful season of the year. The barren ground of winter suddenly brings forth lush, green grass and vibrant, fragrant flowers of delightful variety. The seemingly dead branches of trees miraculously burst with mantles of buds, blossoms and leaves. And birds and other creatures welcome their young into the world. New life is all around for us, and Herby, to enjoy.

Do you feel like your life is like winter sometimes? Has life become boring, dull, unpleasant, or even hopeless? What does the new life that we experience around us in spring tell us about our own lives?

If you feel like you’ve been experiencing a winter in your life and want to feel renewed and full of life again, take time to enjoy and reflect the wonder of springtime. Take hope and inspiration in the amazing miracle of spring: that what once seemed dead can indeed come back to life.

Often when someone is having a bad day or is disagreeable, it is said that they “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” We can all at times be upset, angry, or in a bad mood, especially when bad things happen. And like Herby, we may want to stay that way.

When things don’t go the way you want them to, how do you usually feel? If you find yourself sad or mad, would you like to turn your bad mood into a good mood if you could?

When we’re feeling grumpy and grouchy, it’s often hard to feel better. But you don’t have to stay glum. Instead, think about things that make you feel better, do something you enjoy, and talk with the people who love you. If you do, you won’t be staying on the wrong side of the perch for long!