Ajuú Axolotl

Heeelloo… I'm Ajuú! The most laid-back little axolotl in all the canals. Well… almost all of them! Hee hee. I love to float slowly, make little bubbles and enjoy the beautiful things in life. Want to try something with me? Close your eyes, if you like, and take a deep breath… Inhale: two… three… four… Now let the air out veeery slowly: two… three… four… And when you finish, say it with me: «Ajuuuuuuu!». Did you feel that? So nice! It's like even your worries went out for a little stroll.

Do you know where I live? In the wonderful canals of Xochimilco, in Mexico City! A place full of water, plants, little animals and colorful boats called trajineras. That's where we little Mexican axolotls make our home. And even though we're small, we have an amazing superpower: if I hurt a little leg, it can grow back! I can also regrow other parts of my body. That's why I like to remind my friends that not everything has to be solved right away: sometimes, things need time, patience and lots of cuddles.

I'm not the type to go running around shouting «quick, quick, the world is ending!». When something worries me, makes me angry or makes me nervous, I do my secret little trick: I stop, breathe in deeply and let the air out bit by bit… Ajuuuuu! And if it doesn't work the first time, I try again! Because feeling anger, sadness or fear is normal; we don't have to be happy all the time. Calm doesn't always come from outside: very often, we can find it inside ourselves.

My home is the water, and I love it with all my little heart. That's why I get very sad when I find trash in my canals. Clean water helps the plants grow, gives the little animals a home, and lets us live happily. Everything is connected! If we take care of the water, we take care of the plants; if we take care of the plants, we help the animals; and if we take care of each other, we make the world a more beautiful place!

And since breathing is much more fun with music, whenever you need a little moment of calm you can listen to my song «Breathe and Float»: a soft bossa nova, perfect for closing your eyes and imagining you're floating in the water. I even have it in English so we can sing along together!

And there are more musical bubbles! I also have «Every Little Piece of Me», full of positive affirmations to repeat every day. My favorite time to listen to it is in the morning, while you get ready for school.

And you know what's even more special? These songs were born in Spanish, so you can also listen to them the way they first came to life — and practice a new language while you breathe and float. Here are the originals:

And remember, little friend: you don't have to be the fastest or the one who does everything perfectly. Being you is already something wonderful! If one day things don't go the way you hoped, breathe, give yourself time and try again. Shall we take one last breath together? Inhale… two… three… four… Exhale… two… three… four… Ajuuuuuuu!

Breathe, float, and remember: every little piece of you is special!