[sighs]
[birds chirping]
Mmm, no.
Nope.
Dinosaurs?
Maybe.
[roaring]
[sighs] I wish they were real dinosaurs.
[gasps]
Maybe I need a snack.
Or maybe I need Addy.
What you doin', Addy?
Wanna do something with me?
I just started reading this great book about a boy
who finds a mysterious portal in his basement.
I could read it out loud with you.
Cool. What's a portal?
It's like a magic door.
Yes! I love magic doors.
"Jason stepped through the mysterious portal
and found himself in a deep, dark forest.
It was eerily silent,
except for the sounds of leaves crackling under his feet.
Then suddenly, he heard a sound like a owl hooting.
What was this mysterious place, Jason wondered.
And why had he only discovered it today?"
Are you listening, Karl?
Maybe you're just not in the mood for this kind of story today.
I guess not.
[Addy] Why don't you go kick the ball around with Michael?
Great idea, Addy!
Hey, Michael. Can I play?
Well, I'm not really playing. I'm practicing.
But you can practice with me if you want to.
Yes! Kick it to me.
Is this all we do?
This is how you practice.
Practice isn't fun.
It is for me. But if you don't wanna do it,
- why don't you go swing instead? - I don't wanna swing.
- You could play with your maze game. - I did that yesterday.
How about we ask Addy to play tag with us?
We've done that about a million times.
Maybe Stillwater has some ideas you'd like.
Yeah. Stillwater is always doing something fun! Thanks, Michael.
Hi, Stillwater. Are you doing something fun today?
Hello, Karl. As a matter of fact, I am doing something fun today.
Cool. When?
Right now. Would you like to join me?
Yes!
So, when are we going to start doing the fun stuff, Stillwater?
I'm already doing it.
- But you're just sitting there. - Mm-hmm.
Karl, what do you think would be fun to do?
[Karl] I don't know.
I tried dinosaurs, and robot cranes, and reading books, and soccer practice.
But nothing sounds like fun today.
Well, then, let's do nothing.
That's not what I mean.
I mean, I keep trying to do stuff, but everything is not fun.
[chuckles] Oh, I see.
But, you know, sometimes doing nothing can be just what we need.
Would you like to try it with me?
Well, okay.
Mmm.
How long do we do nothing for?
As long as we need to.
I'm so bored!
Mmm. I wonder if a story might help.
I always like your stories.
Okay, then.
[Stillwater] Once there was a spirited young manatee
who lived in a crystal clear spring.
[chuckles]
[Stillwater] This energetic manatee was always on the move,
- looking for new adventures and things... - [chuckling]
...to discover in her underwater world.
There was no slowing down for her.
Whoo!
[gasps] Ooh.
Mama, over here! Come and look.
I found a shiny pebble right in the middle of some seagrass. Come and look.
I'm coming, baby.
It's so pretty, Mama. And it's right over here.
[stammers] No, wait.
I think it's over here.
No. Uh, over here. Huh?
Uh... [exhales sharply]
[Stillwater] In her excitement, the young manatee stirred up the mud...
- [groaning] - ...at the bottom of the spring,
causing the water to become darker and darker.
I know it's here somewhere, Mama. I know it is.
But the water is so muddy now, I can't see it.
[Stillwater] Soon, the water was so murky
the young manatee could barely even see her mother.
Mama? Mama? Where are you?
Oh, I'm here, Daughter.
The shiny thing, Mama. I can't find it. I-- I can't find anything. [sighs]
Just stop for a moment, my sweet.
[breathes deeply]
Be quiet and still. If you quiet your mind and body and do nothing,
I think you'll find what you're looking for.
[Stillwater] The young manatee did as her mother asked,
and the muddy water slowly settled
until it was crystal clear again.
Mama, it worked. The more I did nothing, the more I could see.
And now I see what I was looking for. It's right in front of us.
You see, Daughter, the more we allow ourselves to do nothing,
the more we can see the world around us
and all its possibilities.
Do you think if I sit still and do nothing it will help me find something fun to do?
Would you like to see what happens if we try?
Okay. [exhales deeply]
[both breathing deeply]
How does nothing feel to you, Karl?
It feels quiet and still. I can't see anything 'cause my eyes are closed.
But I can hear all kinds of things.
Isn't it interesting how even in nothing there can be something?
I hear a bird. It sounds happy.
And some squirrels. [chuckles] It sounds like they're mad at each other.
I can even hear the trees.
And I hear something moving behind us.
[Stillwater] Mmm. I wonder what that could be.
[Karl] It could be Jasper. Or maybe it's a dog or a zebra.
[gasps] Or maybe it's a garden gnome sneaking through the grass.
I think that's what it is, Stillwater! A garden gnome!
Anything is possible.
Maybe if I try doing nothing again, I'll find out where it is.
I could also build a garden gnome finder to help me find it.
That doesn't sound boring at all.
Will you show it to me when you've finished?
I will!
Thanks, Stillwater!
What are you doing, Karl?
I'm collecting stuff to build a garden gnome finder.
[Michael] Garden gnome?
Yeah, I heard one in Stillwater's backyard,
and now I wanna see it!
That sounds awesome. Can I help?
Sure. We can use this box in the garden gnome finder.
You're making a garden gnome finder, Karl?
Uh-huh. Michael's helping.
[Addy chuckles] That's great. Need more help?
Okay.
So this is what a garden gnome finder looks like. How does it work?
Gnomes are very curious. This candy will get its attention.
Very clever, Karl.
Then we can spy on it through our secret hideout box.
And I'm not bored at all now. Thanks for helping me with that, Stillwater.
You're welcome.
So, what exactly did you and Stillwater do to make you not be bored anymore?
We did nothing.
- Nothing? - Nothing?
That's right. We did nothing.
Oh. Well, I guess nothing worked.
Yep, it did.
And now we need to find that gnome. Everybody, be quiet.
Is that it?
No, just Jasper.
That was a great field trip today. I love going to art museums.
Me too. And now I'm even more excited about the art fair at school.
[groans] I wish you hadn't reminded me of that.
- [Molly] Why? - I don't have a piece of art yet.
But, Michael, the art fair is tomorrow.
I know, Molly.
Ms. Welsh said the artwork we make should say something about who we are,
but I have no idea what to do.
What did you two make?
You know how I like taking pictures?
Well, I have a thing that goes on my camera
which lets me get up super close
so I can see stuff like a housefly's face or a drop of water on a leaf.
That's what my project's about. Seeing things in a different way.
I made a globe of the earth out of trash and a chart showing how to recycle things.
Protecting the environment's real important to me.
[sighs] They both sound great.
Don't worry, Michael. You'll figure it out.
Well, I'm gonna try at least. See you tomorrow.
Huh.
[sighs]
[groans]
Okay, Michael. Why do you keep sighing?
My art fair project. It has to say something about me.
What does that even mean? I'm just not very creative.
What? Yes, you are.
Well, I don't feel like it.
I wish somebody would tell me,
"Do it this way." Like all my other assignments.
You need some inspiration?
There's a shelf full of art books. Maybe one of them will give you an idea.
Oh, yeah. Thanks, Addy.
This should do it.
[groans]
How's it going?
Awful. It doesn't look anything like what's in the book.
I said use it for inspiration.
You're trying to copy a famous painting by a famous artist.
I told you. I'm not an artist. It's hard for me to come up with artistic ideas.
What about all those maps and diagrams you make?
That's like science, not art.
Your teacher said make something about you.
So, what are you feeling right now?
Frustration.
Then draw what that looks like.
[Michael groans]
How did it turn out?
[groans] I don't like it. The nose is crooked. The ears are funny.
It doesn't look anything like me.
It doesn't have to. Like Stillwater says, "You have to go with the flow."
That's just it. My flow won't go.
Okay. You like building stuff, don't you?
So instead of making a drawing, do that.
[sighs] I can try.
That's the spirit.
- [Michael grunts] - Michael?
What happened?
I was putting together a marble roller coaster.
Isn't the point of the project to create something personal?
You don't even like roller coasters.
I know. But I had an old playset, so I thought,
"Make that. Turn it in, and be done."
But it was just as bad as my drawings. Now, what do I do?
Sorry, Michael. I'm out of ideas. You should go talk to Stillwater.
Hello, Michael. I didn't see you. How are you today?
Not so great.
Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.
I have to do a project for the school art fair.
It has to be about me,
but everything I tried turned out really bad.
And who told you they were bad?
No one. Well, me.
Hmm. Interesting.
Would you care to try?
[groans]
See? I ruined it.
Michael, are you familiar with the meaning of a positive and negative mindset?
Positive is good, and negative is bad?
Well, in a way. When we approach any task,
the way we think about it, negative or positive,
can often impact the results.
Well, I'm positive I'm bad at art.
[chuckles] And what does that tell you about your mindset?
Guess I'm thinking pretty negatively.
Mmm. I have a story that speaks to this. Would you like to hear it?
Yeah. I'd like that a lot.
[Stillwater] There once was a family
of seagulls who lived in a nest near the ocean.
[Stillwater] The mother had raised her brood with love...
- [squawking] - ...but she knew
they would soon have to spread their wings.
All right, my dears. It's time for you to fly.
[Stillwater] And with that...
- [grunts] - ...they took their first flight.
[grunting]
[brother chick] Yay!
[Stillwater] All except the smallest brother.
[grunting]
[chuckles] We did it. Come on.
I can't do it.
Of course you can, sweetheart. Be patient with yourself.
[Stillwater] Every time his brother and sister flew,
- the little gull tried. - [grunting]
I can't.
Almost. Keep going.
- [Stillwater] And tried. - [grunting] I can't.
Yeah, come on! You can do it!
- [Stillwater] And tried. - [grunting, sighs] I give up.
[Stillwater] Before long,
he convinced himself that he would never learn to fly.
- [wind whistling] - [thunder rumbling]
[Stillwater] Then one day,
the little bird discovered that he had a big problem.
A storm was coming.
And with it, a great wind that shook the nest on the cliff where it sat.
Come on, dear. Time to fly.
But I can't do it.
[grunts] Oh! [shouts]
[Stillwater] But as he fell, the gull chick's instincts took over.
He opened his wings and found himself...
Flying.
I'm really flying.
I did it, Mama!
I knew you would. You just had to trust what comes naturally.
[chuckles] Yeah! Whoo-hoo! Yeah!
[Stillwater] Then the family rode the winds together.
So, the seagull had to stop worrying
and being so negative about if he could fly,
and just let it happen.
Exactly.
Whenever I begin to have doubts about myself,
there are three questions I always ask.
What am I feeling? Is that helpful? Is it true?
I am having a lot of doubts lately.
Then let me ask you those questions.
When you say you are a bad artist, how does that make you feel?
It makes me feel frustrated.
Is that helpful?
Definitely no. It makes me not want to make art.
And do you think it's true?
Not really.
[Stillwater] There's a creative and expressive person inside all of us.
Though sometimes, it might take a little push to do what comes naturally.
Like that bird on the cliff. I just need to spread my wings.
And let the winds take you where they may.
I think I might need a little push too. Like the bird.
Hmm. The art fair project is supposed to tell us about you.
What are the things you like most?
I like baseball, and making paper airplanes,
and building stuff, and stargazing and my family.
I still wish art came with a set of instructions or a blueprint.
[gasps] That's it, Stillwater. Now I know what to do.
Happy flying. [chuckles]
- [Molly] A pizza? - [laughing]
[door opens, closes]
You know I like to make plans and maps. So here's what I came up with.
A Michael blueprint.
- [Molly] Wow! - [Stillwater, Leo] Whoa!
I love it. It's sort of like all the ingredients for you.
I knew you'd figure it out.
Yeah. Me too.
Nicely done, Michael. Are you feeling better about your artwork now?
Positively. I just had to do what came naturally.
[chuckles] Well, I'm glad you did.
["Never Ending Dream" playing]
[singer] ♪ With our spirits We were floating through the trees ♪
♪ Like creatures, we were soaring high Blowing off some steam ♪
♪ Or a mountain And its effervescent green ♪
♪ A never-ending dream ♪
♪ I found a little bit of honey ♪
♪ And now I'm a little sweeter inside ♪
[singing in Japanese]
♪ It's just a little bit funny ♪
♪ But now I have the world on my side ♪
[singing in Japanese]
[song fades]