Mosi is also a very mindful mosquito. He’s always very conscious of his surroundings and the present moment in time. He doesn’t think too much about the past or the future.

Mosi lives near a big swamp with his family and friends. Mosquitoes need water to reproduce. So although the swamp gets pretty stinky and humid, it’s a perfect habitat for them.

There are often lots of other animals around the swamp. But for some reason, they never seem that happy at the sight of Mosi and the other mosquitoes. It’s almost as if they purposefully try to avoid them sometimes!

One day, Mosi is thirstily drinking some juice from a plant beside the swamp.

“I see you do drink something other than blood then?” he hears a voice behind him say quietly.

Mosi turns around and sees the most colourful animal he thinks he’s ever come across! It’s an incredibly brightly coloured lizard. He’s every colour of the…“Woah!” he can’t help himself from commenting.

“Yes, I know,” says the lizard. “Hi. I’m Razi. I’m a rainbow lizard.”

“Hi!” replies Mosi, happy another animal seems to want to talk to him. “I’m Mosi. I’m a mosquito.”

“Yes, I know,” responds Razi, nodding.

“How come you don’t usually speak to me?” asks Mosi. “I thought maybe you didn’t like me.”

“Oh no, it’s not that we lizards have anything against you,” explains Razi calmly. “It’s just that when you use our blood for food, it hurts!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” says Mosi, looking crestfallen. “I didn’t realise.”

“No problem. We already get cut and lose blood because of the thorns on the bushes and the sharp objects humans leave around,” Razi complains.

“Ouch!” says Mosi. Painful bites and cuts don’t sound good at all.

“Normally, one of your bites just makes our skin itch. That’s bad enough. But sometimes you have parasites in your gut that get into our bloodstream and make us sick. Often we don’t survive.”

Mosi is shocked to hear this. And then he realises there is something Razi perhaps isn’t aware of.

“You know, it’s only female mosquitoes that bite you, because they need blood to create and lay their eggs.”

“Thanks for the information. I’m not sure that really makes things much better for us though.”

Mosi has to agree, it doesn’t really.

“If they don’t stop biting and making us sick, there won’t be any of us left to get blood from,” continues Razi.

Mosi knows animals need to reproduce. And they all need to eat too. So he wonders how the female mosquitoes can get the blood they need without hurting other animals. He meditates a little on the problem. As Mosi remembers what Razi has said about getting cuts, an idea occurs to him.

“Razi,” he says, “where does the blood go when you cut yourselves?”

Razi thinks this is a strange question but answers anyway.

“Well it kinds of just sits on our skin, or falls off in drops onto the ground.”

“Then I think we may be able to help the rainbow lizards and other animals whilst making sure the mosquitoes can still get the blood they need.”

Mosi shares his idea with Razi and Razi’s long lizard tongue flicks back and forth out of his mouth with excitement. He loves it! He calls over some of his friends. Mosi flies off to get his mum and some other female mosquitoes.

When the mosquitoes return, Mosi and Razi explain Mosi’s plan to everyone. It seems really simple. And yet, it’s brilliant because of that.

The lizards immediately check their skin to see if they have any cuts. A few of them do and there are even some fresh drops of blood. Razi gets them to move over towards a plant that has really big leaves. They then move their bodies so that the droplets of blood fall onto the leaves.

Mosi indicates to his mum and the other female mosquitoes and they fly over. Although there are only a few drops of blood, it’s a huge quantity for the teeny mosquitoes. They drink all the drops and soon they are bulging full after their feed.

“Thanks so much Mosi,” Razi and the other lizards say. “We’re happy to share our blood if it means we don’t get hurt so much, or get sick.”

Mosi thinks it’s marvellous he’s been able to help. “It’s my pleasure,” he says. “I’m so glad we won’t be causing you pain anymore. Does this mean there’ll be no more whining around here except for the sound of our mosquito wings?” he says cheekily. And he flies speedily away before Razi can catch him on his long, sticky tongue!

 Questions for discussion

How do you protect yourself from biting insects where you live?

What diseases can animals and humans catch from mosquitoes?

Can you think of reasons why it might be good to give a little of your blood to help someone else?

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Having trained as a practitioner who deals specifically with treating the effects of trauma, creative writing is proven to be an effective means of maintaining psychological well-being.

The aim of the Connection and Well-being sessions is twofold:

– to help participants feel a greater sense of connection to other people they interact with, and to raise their levels of compassion and resilience

– to provide participants with an extra tool in their wellbeing kit, so that they can use it as and when they feel the need

Please Note: These sessions are not a replacement service for any participants who may be receiving professional help for more serious emotional issues, but are designed to be a valuable supplement to mental health services, and of great benefit in supporting individuals in looking after their overall well-being.

The post Poetry and Creative Writing for Connection and Wellbeing events appeared first on Claire Culliford - Fiction & Educational Children's Author.