Starry Story #3 - Friendship Constellation

Join Starry as the drifts into the night skies uncovering the truths about friendship, confidence and staying true to yourself!

Episode EXPERTLY read by our very own Witchy Starry Sarah Finlay. Find more of her at @_sarahfinaly_ on Instagram, and let us know if you want more of her beautiful accent for more of your Starry Stories!

Check out our incredible empowering resources on our website www.stardustsquad.com.au
If you'd like to get in touch, maybe you have an episode request, you can email us at hellostardustsquad@gmail.com.au
And send us a message at the PODCAST HOTLINE at the link above - I'm bursting waiting to get a message from you!

Subscribe to get notified of when our next episode drops.
See you in the galaxies!

Transcript

0:00

Hey Stories, this episode is perfect for you to listen to on your own or with a grown up. Enjoy! Hi, my name is Pearl. At Stardust Squad, we respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather, create, explore, and dream, the Gunnaikurnai people. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and recognize their ongoing connection to the land, the seas, and the skies. We acknowledge that this land has been a place of learning and storytelling for thousands of years and honor the wisdom and stories of Indigenous people. As we continue on our Stardust adventures, we commit to building a sense of belonging. Welcoming and respect for all cultures, identities and beliefs. May we walk gently upon this land, guided by the styles and spirits of those who came before us. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. Stardust squad we shine so bright, twinkling in the sky at night. Hand in hand we laugh and play, dreaming big every day. Sparkle high and sparkle low, together we let our magic grow. Girls of strength, girls of light, Stardust squad we take flight. Clap once, clap twice, then spin around. In Stardust squad we're safe and sound, shining strong we lift each other. Sisters of stars like none other. Story and the Friendship Constellation The stars were twinkling brightly in the sky as Starry gazed out of her window. It was her favourite time of the night, when everything was quiet and the sky seemed to tell its own stories. But tonight Starry wasn't feeling as calm and peaceful as usual. Her mind was filled with thoughts about her friends. Well, her friends, if she could call them that. At school, Starry had a group of girls she hung out with. But lately, things hadn't been going well. She always felt like she had to try too hard to fit in, to say the right things or wear the right clothes. There was always some drama or misunderstanding. And sometimes she felt like they didn't really understand her. And no matter how hard she tried to be liked, she still felt out of place. As she looked up at the stars, she wondered if there were other kids out there who felt the same way. She sighed and rested her chin on her arms, wondering how things had gotten so complicated. When she was younger, friendship had been easy. It was about playing games, sharing secrets and laughing together. But now everything seemed so different. Suddenly a voice interrupted her thoughts, why So sad story. She blinked and looked around her room startled. Who said that? But there was no one there. The voice had come from outside. No. It was almost like it had come from the sky up here. Starry the voice said gently starry looked up and there amongst the stars. She saw something she had never seen before. A bright, sparkling constellation in the shape of a beautiful face. I'm here to help, the constellation said. Story couldn't believe what she was seeing. A constellation was speaking to her. But instead of being scared, she felt a strange sense of calm. Who are you? Story asked. I'm your guide through the stars tonight, the constellation said, and I've come because I know you've been feeling lost, especially when it comes to your friends. Starry nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. Yeah, it's just, everything feels so complicated. I don't know if my friends really like me for who I am, or if they just want me to be someone else. The constellation twinkled softly. That's a difficult feeling. But you're not alone, Starry. Sometimes the stars align in ways we don't understand. And just like the stars, friendships go through phases. Some shine brightly and some fade away. But the key is staying true to yourself. Starry sighed. That sounds great, but it's hard. I don't want to be alone. You won't be, the constellation assured her. Come with me. Let's take a journey through the stars. I have a few things to show you. Before Starry could say another word, she felt herself being gently lifted into the air. She wasn't afraid. If anything, she felt lighter than she had in weeks. The next thing she knew, she was floating amongst the stars, surrounded by shimmering lights and the endless expanse of space. Starry floated along with the constellation as her guide. They passed by shooting stars, glowing planets and swirling galaxies. It was beyond words. But soon, they arrived at a place that caught Starry's attention. A massive glowing cloud of colours and light. This is the Friendship Nebula, the constellation explained. Here friendships form and grow. Some friendships are like bright stars. They shine intensely, but burn out quickly. Others are like constellations. They take time to form, but when they do, they last forever. Story watched in awe as the stars in the nebula flickered and danced. It's beautiful., She whispered. But how do you know which friendships will last? The constellation smiled. That's the tricky part, Story. Friendships change, just like the stars. Sometimes you'll have friends who seem perfect at first. But over time, you'll realise you're not meant to shine together. And that's okay. What matters is that you stay true to yourself. But what if I don't fit in with anyone? Story asked. You will, the constellation said gently. But the right friends are the ones who like you for who you are, not who you try to be. They're the ones who make you feel like you can shine without pretending to be something else. Story thought about that for a moment. She had been trying so hard to fit in with her friends at school. Changing her clothes, agreeing with everything they said, and even pretending to like things she didn't. But it had never felt right. Maybe that was why she always felt so tired around them. As they continued their journey, Story and the constellation passed by clusters of stars, some flickering brightly. Others barely visible. But soon they came to a single star that shone with a soft, steady glow. This, the constellation said, is the star of true friendship. It doesn't burn as brightly as some of the other stars, but it shines steadily, even through the darkest nights. Starry gazed at the star, feeling its warmth and light. It didn't demand attention. But its glow was constant, reassuring. This star is like the friends who will be with you through thick and thin, the constellation explained. They may not be the most popular or the loudest, but they will be the ones who stand by you when you need them the most. And more importantly, they'll love you for who you are, not who they want you to be. Starry felt a warmth spread through her chest. She had been so focused on fitting in with the popular group at school that she hadn't paid attention to the quieter friendships she had been there with all along. She thought about her classmate, Marigold, who always shared her lunch with her when she forgot hers. And Primrose, who listened without judgement whenever Starry talked about her love for the stars and space. Maybe those were the friends she should be paying attention to. The ones who made her feel comfortable just being her. As they drifted further through space, Starry noticed a brilliant comet zooming by, leaving a trail of sparkling light behind it. The constellation nodded towards it. That, it said, is the comet of confidence. It only appears when someone begins to trust themselves and their own path. Starry watched in awe as the comet shot across the sky, its light bright and unwavering. How do I get that kind of confidence, she asked. The constellation's voice was gentle but firm. By being true to who you are, even when it feels hard. Confidence doesn't come from being like everyone else, Starry. It comes from accepting yourself. Flaws, quirks, and all. And knowing that the right people will love you for exactly who you are. Starry thought about how often she had changed herself to fit in. How she had been afraid of being different. But the comment reminded her that being different It wasn't something to hide, it was something to celebrate. You are like that comet, the constellation said. You're meant to blaze your own trail, not follow someone else's. Starry smiled, feeling a spark of confidence grew inside her. Maybe it was time to stop worrying about what other people thought, and start trusting herself more. After what felt like hours, Story knew it was time to return to Earth. She had learned so much on this journey through the stars. About friendship, about confidence, and about staying true to herself. As she floated back down to her bedroom window, she felt lighter, more at peace. Before she left, the constellation spoke one last time. Remember, Story, friendships, like stars, will come and go. But the ones that truly matter will stay with you, no matter how far apart you are. And the most important thing is to be yourself. Because that's when you'll attract the people who are meant to be in your life. Starry nodded, her heart full of gratitude. As she climbed back into bed, she felt different, stronger, more confident and ready to face the world. She knew that she might still face challenges with her friends at school, but now she understood that she didn't have to change herself to fit in. The right friends would find her when she was being her true self. She closed her eyes, the warmth of the stars lingering in her heart, and drifted off to sleep. Knowing that no matter what happened, she would always shine as brightly as the stars she loved. And so, Starry learned an important lesson that night. True friendships are built on acceptance and trust, not on trying to be someone else. Just like the stars in the sky, the right friends will find you when you shine as your true self. And in the end, it's not about how many friends you have, but about the quality of the friendships you keep. Starry went to sleep with a heart full of peace, knowing that by being true to herself, she would always attract the right people into her life. Today's affirmation is, it's not my job to be everything to everyone.