Character Stories
A resources of stories for parents, child care educators and teachersTrish Corbett is the author of ‘How To Raise Kids With Integrity – for Parents, Child Care Educators and Teachers’ and the founder of Ethical Foundations. Trish shares a weekly blog focussing on one character a week so that we can all become more self-aware and create a kinder, safer world. Join our tribe! Trish also offers personal coaching and workshops.
CONGRUENCY
CONGRUENCY – ‘A Way To Achieve Your Goal’
One day Master was watching a practice session in the courtyard. All the students were doing their practice.
Among the students, he noticed that there was one young man who was trying to perfect his technique but he was not able to work on that move properly. It seemed to master that the young man was getting disturbed by the presence of other students.
Master could sense that the young man’s frustration and went up to that young man and tapped on his shoulder.
He questioned to young man “What’s bothering you?”
Young man replied with strained expression. “I don’t know… I don’t understand why I am not able to execute this move properly. No matter how much I try…”
Master replied, “Listen before you can master a technique, you should understand Harmony. Come with me, I will explain how you can do that.”
The Master and the student left the building and walked some distance into a forest until they reached a stream. After reaching the stream, the master and the student stood silently on the bank of the stream for some time.
After a while Master spoke to the young man pointing at the stream, “Look at the stream. See there are rocks in its way. Does it slam them out of frustration?
“No, it does not slam the rocks but instead the stream will simply flow around them and move on. Be like water and you will know what Harmony is.”
The young man understood Master’s advice and went back to the courtyard to practice his move and this time he concentrated his focus and barely noticed other students around him and then he was able to execute the perfect move and master that technique.
Moral of the Story: Focus on your actions and your goal. Do not concern, or compare, yourself with others. Nature helps you find balance by observing and reflecting on your observations.
DISCRETION
DISCRETION – ‘A Little Thoughtfulness’
From Mindfood.com – by Mario Anzuoni
Articulate and eloquent, it’s hard to believe Emily Blunt spent her formative years struggling with a debilitating speech disorder. She opens up about her adolescent stuttering, bullying and the magic of Mary Poppins.
Now that she is mother of two daughters: Hazel, 4, and Violet, 2, who she is raising with husband John Krasinski, her co-star in the blockbuster horror film, A Quiet Place (which he also wrote and directed), Emily Blunt speaks candidly about her fears for her kids. “Stuttering is genetic,” she nods slowly.
“Of course, like every mother, you worry irrationally about your kids. You want to make sure that they are safe, taken care of and not teased, even though teasing and bullying is part of growing up,” she says.
Blunt, the titular star in Mary Poppins Returns was no stranger to bullying. “Stuttering is something that still people poke fun at. It is a disability and people are teased because they sound funny and they look funny when they stutter. I looked funny and sounded funny and kids in the class were like, ‘Why can’t you say it! Just say it!’ I even had a teacher who would scream, ‘Spit it out!’” she says, shaking her head. “That is a problem. That it’s a very misinformed issue that a lot of adults are still going through. There are many adults out there who have never been given the right treatment and they find it impossible to get the kind of job that they deserve even though they are highly qualified but they can’t represent who they are in these meetings because they are hindered by their speech impediment.”
She works closely with the American Institute of Stuttering. “Stuttering for me was a part of my setback. Everyone has got one and that’s what I say to these kids who have severe stutters who come and talk to me. I say, ‘Look, everyone has got something and this is just your thing.’”
Despite her setbacks, Blunt sees the glass as half full. “When you have to overcome something you learn a lot about yourself. I just want these kids with stutters to know that it’s not forever, it’s temporary. You will find a way past it, and you do,” she says. “I say to the kids, ‘Everybody gets bullied and I promise you there’s light on the other side. It will pass and you will grow from it and you will learn from it. And to be different and to be an individual is the most important thing in the world’.”
She pauses. “Though there are times when I still stutter and I will always be a stutterer. It comes out if I am really tired or on the phone, I am really bad.”
What are her hopes for her children?
“Well I obviously don’t want that for them. But I know that that’s part of life and teasing will happen. If it gets to the point where bullying is happening and it becomes really cruel, that will be agonising for me. But my older one is at a school where kindness is paramount and at our household kindness is paramount. And so I want my kids to grow up with a great sense of justice.”
With Blunt and Krasinski enjoying successful careers, raising two beautiful children, she seems to be living the cliché of ‘having it all.’ What, if anything, keeps Emily Blunt up at night?
“Loss. Losing people I love is something I worry about. Other than losing my grandmother, which was devastating, I haven’t experienced loss yet. I’ve had a lot of people recently around me who have lost a parent. You get older and your parents get older and you start to get those big thoughts and those big questions come into play. And I think the more you have, the more you have at stake to lose and I think that is probably what scares me the most.
Moral of the Story: At every stage of life perspectives change as you grow and mature. As a child at school, Emily may have wanted people to treat her stutter with discretion – especially the mean teacher! Now that Emily is a mum she is happy to share her story so that others, especially children, will learn that regardless of bullying that may happen at school you can overcome your challenges and become anything you want to be. Emily would probably have never imagined, as a child with a stutter that should would become a brilliant actor when she grew up.
ENCOURAGEMENT
Story – ‘The Little Cracked Pot’
There was once a water bearer who had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which, he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, but the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.
But the poor cracked pot was very ashamed of its imperfection, and was miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do — or so it thought.
The cracked pot, after two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
“I am very ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
“Why?” asked the water bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”
“For the past two years, I have only been able to deliver half of my real capacity, because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to the master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the cracked pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and compassionately said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot did notice the sun shining on the beautiful wildflowers growing along his side of the path, and this cheered it some. However, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had again leaked out half its load, and so it apologized to the water bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and put it to good use. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path (for the return trip), and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For over two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. If you weren’t the way you are, he wouldn’t have the flowers for his house.”
FORESIGHT
Foresight Story – Life Lesson Learnt at a Movie
From Pass It On
Kim and I decided to go to an early show to see a new movie, thinking the crowds wouldn’t be as bad. We arrived a little early and were talking during the credits about our day. In came a young girl, followed by a man whom we thought was her father. They sat one row ahead and about two seats to the right. As they began to talk it was clear the man was her father, and their family had come on hard times.
The young girl seemed mature beyond her years. She consoled her father that all would be okay and that she loved him. As they spoke, Kim’s eyes filled with tears, thinking how fortunate this father was to have the love and support of this daughter. You see, the young girl had commented on how long it had been since her father had taken the time to relax. This young lady reminded her dad of the times past when they would go to movies together, sitting, talking, crying and laughing. These were times she missed, she knew her dad did as well, but had dedicated himself fully to correcting the ills the economy placed on their finances.
It became obvious to us they had chosen the matinée because the tickets were less expensive. They had bought a small value drink and popcorn and were sharing it happily. This young lady had saved her money from tending to have just enough to allow them to enjoy this daddy/daughter date as in times not too long ago. The father expressed gratitude for this expression of love, promising the girl they would get back to the good old times soon.
Next, entering while talking on a mobile phone, was a woman who appeared to be rushed and impatient. She took the seat right in front of us two rows down. She had a combo snack with popcorn and a drink as well. It became obvious to us she was waiting for someone, and they were to meet at the movie. This woman was “put out” that she had taken off work early to meet this person who was late. She had unkind words over the phone; then we realized she was talking to her daughter.
The mother stormed out of the theater. Kim and I remarked at how the two families were experiencing totally different lives. The mother seemed to have it all with no concern for time or money, yet she had no relationship of value with her child. On the other hand, the father, while perhaps having no surplus cash, had a deep and meaningful relationship with his daughter.
The movie started with the theater becoming dark. After about fifteen minutes this mother and her daughter came marching in through the doors. Their eyes had not adjusted yet, so they had difficulty getting to their seats. The mother missed her row and proceeded to sit next to this father and his daughter. Now they were right in front of us so we could hear the frustration in both the mother and her daughter. They had words; the daughter stated, “Mom I knew this wouldn’t work. Let’s just leave. Who cares about this stupid movie?” Shock registered on the little girl who sat next to them as she was having the time of her life and didn’t understand. The mother had taken the seat on the outside so the young girls were sitting together.
After a few minutes the mother remembered she had b
\ought treats and looked over to see where they were. She was shocked to see the man and his daughter next to them were eating the popcorn and had the drink. She bent over and whispered to her daughter, “That’s our popcorn they are eating.” Her daughter said, “So what?” But the mother kept eyeing this family as they ate.
The young girl with the dad could see the mother next to her was talking about the popcorn and wondered if they wanted some. She leaned over to her dad and said, “Daddy, I am going to share our popcorn with these people. I don’t think they have the money to buy some for themselves.” The father responded, “Sure, ask them, but be quiet so we don’t disturb anyone.” This little girl reached over, handing her bucket to her neighbor in the next seat asking, “Do you and your mom want some popcorn?” The other girl said, “No, I am good, thanks though.” The mother angrily reached over, “Certainly we want our popcorn.” The little girl was taken back but thought to herself that they must be hungry.
The mother kept the popcorn on her seat and ate slowly. After a few minutes we could see the little girl was wondering if she would get the popcorn back, when the mother asked if she could have the drink. “Yes, certainly,” was the response of this girl as she handed it to the lady. She then bent over to her dad and said, “Daddy, we don’t really need those treats anyway; they are not having a good day.” She reached over and held her father’s hand. The lady kept the drink and the popcorn. This didn’t seem to affect the father or daughter at all.
The woman’s daughter leaned over to her mother and asked if she could go and buy some candy. The mother snapped back, “Yes, why don’t you ask the family next to us if they want something,” stating it sarcastically. “My purse is under the seat. Just hurry,” she exclaimed. The girl reached under the seat and was unable to find the purse. Boiling over, the mother leaned over her daughter and said to the young girl sitting next to them, “Did you steal my purse as well?” Shocked, the little girl clasped her father’s hand as he said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. Could it be under the seat you had when you came in?” “What are you talking about,” this mother snapped back at the father! He kindly pointed to the row in front of them and said, “This is the seat you took originally.” The mother looked on the row in front of them and saw her popcorn and drink.
At that time Kim and I became aware of what had happened and were shocked to see her reaction as she handed back both the drink and the remaining popcorn. “I am so sorry,” she said. She was truly embarrassed, as well as humbled, by the young girl’s generosity. The lady reached for her purse and got some money out to give the girl for her misunderstanding. The young girl had no interest and suggested she was happy to share.
As Kim and I drove home, we talked about how this simple, yet profound, experience gave us perspective on how easy it is to misunderstand. This woman thought the family next to her had stolen, when, in fact, they had given the “widow’s might.” We realized how often others deserve the benefit of doubt before we place judgment.
This is just a story; one I wanted to use to illustrate the following: Have a generous heart; it will serve you well. Know as we go through life our impressions can be one hundred and eighty degrees from reality. Our greatest relationships come through selflessness and understanding. And, if we’re lucky as we do so, we will find that “What goes around, comes around.”
Moral of the Story: Be willing and open to learn from others – you never know when that opportunity will occur!
HOPE
HOPE Example – ‘Hope Requires Action’
Abraham Lincoln never gave up – he hoped things were different and he kept taking the necessary steps to make it happen – would you give up or keep taking action until your hopes became a reality?
The information below is By Quora – Titas Nandi
Probably the greatest example of persistence is Abraham Lincoln. Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.
He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of mankind.
And this quote of his is deep rooted in me –
I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.
Truly a man I would want to raise from the dead (More so for the sake of USA now!.
This is his saga of never quitting!
1809 Born February 12
1816 Abraham Lincoln’s family was forced out of their home and he needed to work to support his family.
1818 His mother passed away
1828 His sister dies
1831 A business venture failed
1832 He ran for the State Legislature. He lost.
1832 In the same year, he also lost his job. He decided he wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
1833 He borrowed money from a friend to start a business. By the end of the year, he was bankrupt.
1834 He ran for the State Legislature again. This time he won.
1835 The year was looking better as he was engaged to be married. Unfortunately, his fiancee died and he was grief stricken.
1836 This was the year he had a total nervous breakdown and for 6 months was bedridden.
1836 He sought to become Speaker of the State Legislature. He was defeated.
1840 He sought to become Elector. He was defeated.
1842 Marries Mary Todd. They have 4 boys but only one would live to maturity.
1843 He ran for Congress. He lost.
1846 He ran for Congress again. He won and moved to Washington.
1848 He ran for re-election to Congress. He lost.
1849 He sought the job of Land Officer in his home state. He didn’t get the job.
1850 His son, Edward, dies.
1854 He ran for the Senate of the United states. He lost.
1856 He sought the Vice Presidential nomination at a national convention. He got less than 100 votes.
1858 He ran for the Senate again. He lost again.
1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected President of the United States.
Moral of the Story: It is said that whatever you can imagine can become a reality – all it takes is for you to take the necessary action, have a positive attitude and never give up!
INITIATIVE
Initiative Story – The Island Of Two Sides
The Mokoko tribe lived on the wrong side of the island of two faces. The two sides, separated by a great cliff, were like night and day. The good side was watered by rivers and was filled with trees, flowers, birds and easy and abundant food, while on the wrong side there was hardly any water or plants, and wild beasts crowded together. The Mokoko had the misfortune of having always lived there, with no way to cross to the other side. Their life was hard and difficult: they hardly had food and drink for everyone and they lived in permanent terror of the beasts, who would regularly come and eat some tribe member.
Legend told that some of their ancestors had been able to cross with just the help of a small pole, but for many years not a single tree had grown that would be strong enough to make such a pole, so few Mokoko believed this was possible, and they had become accustomed and resigned to their difficult, resigned life, suffering hunger and dreaming of not ending up as some peckish beast’s dinner.
But nature had it that, precisely along the edge of the cliff separating the two sides of the island, a skinny but strong tree grew, with which they could build two poles. The feeling of anticipation was enormous and there was no doubt among the tribe as to whom they would choose to use the poles: the great chief and the witch doctor.
But when the two of them were given their opportunity to make the jump, they felt so afraid that they didn’t dare to: they thought that the pole could break, or it would not be long enough, or that something would go wrong during the jump … and they put so much energy into these thoughts that the resulting fear caused them to give in. And when they saw that this could lead them to be teased and taunted, they decided to invent some old stories and legends about failed jumps to the other side. And they told so many of these tales and they spread so much that there was no Mokoko who did not know how reckless and foolish you would have to be to even attempt the jump. And there lay the poles, available to anyone wanting to use them, but abandoned by all, because taking up one of these poles had become, by dint of repetition, the most unbecoming thing a Mokoko could do. It was a betrayal of the values of suffering and resistance which so distinguished the tribe.
But into that tribe were born Naru and Ariki, a pair of young hearts truly wanting a different life and, encouraged by the strength of their love, one day decided to take up the poles. Nobody stopped them, but everyone did try to discourage them, trying to convince them of the dangers of jumping, using a thousand explanations.
“And what if what they say is true?” wondered the young Naru.
“Don’t’ worry. Why do they talk so much about a leap they’ve never done? I too am a bit scared, but it doesn’t look so difficult, replied Ariki, ever determined.
“But if it goes wrong, it would be a terrible end, continued Naru, undecided.
“Perhaps the jump will go badly, and perhaps not. But staying forever on this side of the island surely won’t work out well either. Do you know of anyone whose death did not come from being either eaten by the wild beasts or from famine? That too is a terrible end, although it still seems far away to us.”
“You’re right, Ariki. And if we wait much longer we won’t have the strength to make the leap … Let’s do it tomorrow.”
And on the next day, Naru and Ariki jumped to the good side of the island. When taking up the poles, taking their run-up, while feeling their desire, the fear hardly allowed them to breathe. And while flying through the air, helpless and without support, they felt that something surely must have gone wrong and certain death awaited them. But when they landed on the other side of the island and happily hugged each other, they thought the jump really hadn’t been so bad after all.
And as they ran away to discover their new life, behind them they could hear, like a whispering choir:
“It was just luck.”
“Well… maybe tomorrow.”
“What a terrible jump! Had it not been for the pole …”
And Naru and Ariki understood why so few people took the leap: because on the bad side of the island you only ever heard the resigned voices of people without dreams, people filled with fear and despair, people who would never jump …
Moral of the Story: Traditionally people do things without understanding the reason. If you take the leap and trust your own instincts you will feel better either way – you’ll no longer live in regret of not giving something a go.
INSPIRATION
INSPIRATION Story – Making A Difference
From https://www.inspirationalstories.eu/inspirational-stories-for-children/
One day after a high tide lots of starfishes were brought to the shore. They started drying up in the sun. A boy, walking down the shore started throwing starfishes into the sea so that they could continue their lives.
A person came up to him and asked:
– Why are you doing this? Look around! There are millions of starfishes; the shore is covered with them. Your efforts won’t change anything!
The boy picked up the following starfish, thought for a moment, threw it into the sea and said:
– No, my efforts will change a lot…for this Starfish.
Moral of the Story: You can’t save the world. However, you can make a difference by making the world become a kinder, safer place by what you choose to do. Often you don’t know the difference you make, but every once in awhile, someone is kind enough to share that information with you, and it inspires you to keep on making a difference.
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY Story – ‘The New Emperor’
An ageing emperor in the East decided on a novel way to choose his successor. He called the city’s youths to his palace. Handing out some special seeds, he told them, “Go and plant these seeds. In a year’s time, I will judge your plants and choose the new emperor.”
One boy named Ling took his pot home and planted the seed. Every day he watered it but nothing grew. Even though his friends at school were talking about their growing plants, Ling only had an empty pot.
When the day came to return to the palace, Ling went with a frightened heart. The emperor appeared. All the other youths had magnificent plants. When the emperor saw Ling’s plant, he summoned him to the front and announced to the crowd, “Behold your new emperor! He has courage and integrity for all the seeds I gave you were boiled and useless. He was the only one not to cheat. He will be a wise ruler over you all.”
Moral of the Story: Things aren’t always the way they seem. The truth always comes out in the end so always be kind to everyone and don’t make judgements because of how things seem. The truth isn’t always in plain sight.
MINDFULNESS
MINDFULNESSS Story – The Fowler and The Quails
The story, ‘The fowler and the quails,’ is a jataka story, part of the Pali canon.
Once upon a time, the boddhisattva was born as a quail and lived in the forest as the head of thousands of quails.
A fowler, who came to catch quails, used to imitate the note of a quail to attract the birds together. Then he flung his net over them to catch them all at once before going home to sell them for a living.
Observing this, the boddhisattva said to the quails, “This fowler is wreaking havoc on our kinsfolk. I have a way to avoid capture, but you all have to work together to make it a success. In the future, whenever the fowler throws the net over you, bring your head out through the mesh and fly away together to a thorn bush, where we can all escape.”
“Very well, we will do accordingly,” they all replied.
Next day, when the net was cast over them, they did just as the boddhisattva had asked them to do. They lifted up the net and dropped it on a thorn bush, escaping themselves from underneath.
The fowler had to return empty-handed after spending hours disentangling his net from the bush. Day-after-day the quails worked together to foul the fowler’s plans and the fellow had nothing to show for his efforts upon returning home. His wife grew impatient and angry with this sudden incompetence.
The fowler explained to his wife “The quails work together now – the moment I throw my net over them, they fly off with it and drop it on a thorn-bush to escape. But, they won’t live in unity always. As soon as they start bickering amongst themselves, I will bag them again.”
He almost sang out loud, “While concord reigns, the birds bear off the nest; when quarrels arise, the birds fall a prey to me.”
Not long afterward, one of the quails accidentally landed on another’s head and an argument ensued. They bandied insults and taunted each other endlessly.
The boddhisattva, who was watching from a distance, thought to himself, “There is no safety with one who is quarrelsome. The time has come when they will no longer lift up the net and bring about their own destruction. I can not stay here any longer.”
And with his following, he went elsewhere.
Soon afterward, the fowler came back and attracted them by imitating the note of a quail, and when they had gathered together, flung his net over them.
Rather than flying, one quail said to the other, “They say, when you were at work lifting the net, the hair from your head fell off; now’s your time, lift away.”
The other replied, “They say, when you were lifting the net, both your wings molted; now’s your time, lift away.”
But, while they were each exhorting the other to lift the net, the fowler lifted the net for them, crammed them into a basket and took them home to his eager wife, who was happy beyond measure to see them.
The message of unity and concord in this jataka tale rings true. How many times have we quarreled and failed to overcome our petty differences only to fall prey later to manipulation and abuse by a third party, who takes advantage of our disunity?
Moral of the Story: Be mindful of how you behave, when there are no fights or arguments and you work together you can achieve much more than you could on your own.
MOTIVATION
MOTIVATIONAL Story – ‘Ignore The Haters’
“A group of frogs were travelling through the forest when two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that there was no hope left for them.
However, the two frogs ignored their comrades and proceeded to try to jump out of the pit. However, despite their efforts, the group of frogs at the top of the pit were still saying that they should just give up as they’d never make it out.
Eventually, one of the frogs took heed of what the others were saying and he gave up, jumping even deeper to his death. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the group of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and to just die.
He ignored them, and jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, ‘Did you not hear us?’
The frog explained to them that he was deaf and that he thought they were encouraging him the entire time.”
Moral of the Story: Motivation can be internal or external. Sometimes you need to ignore the haters and motivate yourself from the inside, other times you might need some external motivation before it becomes internal. Be mindful of the positive and negative influences in your life and choose to ignore the negative forces and focus on the positive forces.
NOBILITY
NOBILITY Story – ‘The Wet Pants’
There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet.
He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it..
When the girls find out, they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives. The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, “Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.” He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.
As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap.
The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!”
Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.
All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. “You’ve done enough, you klutz!”
Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
Susie whispers back, “I wet my pants once too.”
Moral of the Story: Everyone (no exceptions) goes through times in life where they feel embarrassed about something. Sometimes to practice nobility a little thoughtfulness and consideration to help someone else out is all that is needed. What goes around comes around so be kind when someone needs it and someone will be kind to you when you need it.
PEACEFULNESS
PEACEFULNESS – The Runaway Palace
Story from https://freestoriesforkids.com/children/stories-and-tales/runaway-palace –
Long, long ago, when the world was so full of magic that even the smallest stone could hold a thousand secrets, there was a palace that was alive. Because it slept all the time, nobody knew its secret. It remained that way until the Princess who lived there married a Prince who was a brave and strong warrior but had such a bad temper that even the smallest inconvenience would cause him to hurl things around and slam doors and windows. After his last victory, he let the kind and sweet Princess leave the palace to travel and negotiate the peace, leaving the Prince to live alone for a long time.
The Prince’s boredom caused his bad temper to grow worse and, with the passing days, more and more marks and dents appeared on the walls and floors of the palace, which grew dirty and neglected. One day, when the Prince went out, the palace – annoyed at how it was being treated – woke up and moved for the first time in many years. It decided to hide behind a hill but was so big that it didn’t take long for the Prince to find it again.
The palace tried to escape many times but the Prince would always find it easily and then unleash his fury, causing more and more damage. One night, having grown tired of the Prince’s actions, the palace locked all its doors and windows while the Prince slept. It ran for days and days, ignoring the damage and destruction the Prince was causing while trapped inside. When the palace finally stopped and opened its doors, the Prince discovered that they were surrounded by ice and snow, in the midst of the most horrible cold.
“The North Pole? How do I get out of here?” wondered the Prince as he explored his new surroundings.
After searching all morning and finding nothing, the Prince decided to go back to the palace to warm up. However, when he tried to open the door he found it locked. He banged on the door furiously but all he managed to do was destroy his near-frozen hands. After a while, the door opened slightly and the Prince ran towards it, only for it to slam in his face.
“Stupid palace! It seems angry with me!”
The palace was indeed angry with the Prince and shook all its windows to let him know.
“So that’s the way you want it?” shouted the Prince. “Well, get ready, because this is war. And I have never lost a battle.”
In the days that followed, the Prince and the palace had the strangest fight imaginable. While the Prince tried to get in by breaking the windows, the palace did whatever it could to keep him out. In the middle of that crazy war, the cold began to freeze the Prince’s feet and crack the palace walls. When he was almost completely frozen solid, the Prince – winner of a thousand battles – realised that the only way to win this one would be to make peace. And so the Prince began to repair the palace and to control his anger and fury so as not to damage it again. The palace soon realised that it liked the repairs much more than the stupid fighting and that only that brutish Prince could do them. Soon enough, the palace opened its doors to allow the Prince to shelter from the cold at night, and clean and repair by day.
Much to his surprise, the Prince discovered that he really enjoyed doing the repairs and in no time the palace looked magnificent once again. So much so, that one night it finally forgave the Prince, closed its doors and ran all the way back to its country.
They arrived just before the Princess, who was delighted with the state of the palace and the improved character of her husband, now barely interested in wars and fighting any more. The lasting peace and the Prince’s repairs meant the palace could finally resume its silent sleep.
The only thing anyone knows about this unique palace is that it was taken down stone by stone and distributed around the world. Some of the stones could well be part of your house today, so don’t let your anger and temper cause it any damage…
Moral of the Story: We all have anger inside us and we all need to learn how to deal with it in a way that is helpful for you, your family, friends and our things so that we treat everyone and everything with respect.
PRAYERFULNESS
PRAYERFULNESS – It’s All About Connection
People everywhere all have beliefs and opinions about lots of things in life but what is important is that we all accept and respect each other’s opinions. What matters is that we treat each other with kindness and courtesy all the time. You don’t have to like everyone, or agree with them, but there is no reason you can’t treat people who do no harm to yourself and others with respect.
We all live in the same world and we all benefit when there is more kindness in the world because even though we might think we are different we are all born, and live, within the same planet.
SINCERITY
SINCERITY – ‘A Sincere Man’s Story’
This is a true story about two friends. One day a young man said to his good friend, “I can see that some day you will become great and rich.”
His friend scoffed, “Ridiculous! How will I become a great and rich man?”
The first friend said, “Yes, I can see it. It is written on your forehead.”
The second one said, “All right, if I become great and rich, I will give you ten thousand rupees.”
“Do you really mean it?” the first friend asked. “if so, then write it down.”
The second one wrote down, “I will give you 10,000 rupees if ever I become rich and great,” and he signed his name.
The young man kept the note that his friend had written, but he never took his friend seriously. The agreement was made as a joke. Now, it happened that in 10 or 12 years the one friend really did become rich and great, while the other unfortunately remained quite poor. By that time both friends had drifted apart and were leading their own lives. Even so, the poor friend continued to preserve the note, although he felt that since it was a joke, he would never receive the money.
Quite unexpectedly, the poor man fell seriously ill. just before he died, he called his son, who was only seven years old, and said to him, “My son, please bring me the box that is near the window. Inside it there is something very precious that I have kept for you.”
The son was so sad that his father was dying that he did not want to bring the box. He felt that nothing could be more precious than his father’s life. But the father insisted, so the son went and got the box. Then the father said, “When I die . . .” and immediately the little boy and his mother started crying. But the father continued, “After I die, you go to this man and show him what he has written.” The wife and son looked at the paper and were surprised to learn that the rich man had promised to give his friend ten thousand rupees. But at that moment they could think of nothing but their beloved who was about to leave them.
Soon the man died. Their friendship had faded so much that the rich man, who was once the poor man’s best friend, did not even come to see him before he left this world. But after three or four weeks’ time the son took the note to the rich man. The rich man had many servants. At first they didn’t want to allow this little boy to bother their master. But finally, when they saw he was only an innocent child, they allowed him to come in.
The boy gave the rich man the note. The rich man read it and asked, “Did I write this?”
The boy said, I do not know. Before he died, my father gave it to me to give to you.” The son was near tears. The rich man summoned one of his secretaries and explained, “I promised this boy’s father many years ago that I would give him 10,000 rupees if I became rich and great. I have been rich for seven years; please calculate how much interest I have to give him in addition to the 10,000 rupees.”
The secretary told him, “An additional 7,000 rupees, which makes it 17,000 altogether.”
The rich man immediately issued a check for 17,000 rupees and gave it to the little boy, saying, “Take this directly to your mother. Don’t go anywhere else first.” This is how one sincere man kept his promise.
Moral of the Story: If you make a promise, do your best to keep it. Live life by how you would like to be treated without expectations of others.
STRATEGY
STRATEGY – ‘The Hare & The Tortoise’
There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch.
Hare ran down the road for a while and then paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, “How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?”
Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, “There is plenty of time to relax.”
Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line.
The animals who were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare.
Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over the line.
After that, Hare always reminded himself, “Don’t brag about your lightning pace, for Slow and Steady won the race!”
Moral of the Story: This story has two lessons in it. Firstly, bragging is words, just words. Bragging doesn’t mean that what is being said is true. Secondly, anyone can win any race with consistency. Slow and steady means progress. Constant progress. Consistency was the strategy.
TRUSTWORTHINESS
TRUSTWORTHINESS – ‘Bigmouth Fox’
Penguin, Reindeer and Fox were great friends. One day, Penguin and Reindeer found a load of fruit, and decided to keep it a secret. On the way, they met Fox, who seeing them so happy, asked them why. They told him they couldn’t say, because it was a secret, but Fox asked them to trust him, so they told him about the fruit.
When they arrived at the village, Fox forgot about his promise, and told everyone. When Penguin and Reindeer returned to the place where they had found the fruit, the animals of the village had already been there and eaten it all.
That same day, Penguin and Reindeer found another place full of food, and the same thing happened again with Fox. Angered by these betrayals, they decided to teach Fox a lesson. The next day they told Fox that they had found a lake so full of fish that no effort was needed to catch them. Fox again told everyone in the village about this. The next day, Fox came by, covered in cuts and bruises. After telling all the animals about the lake full of fish, everyone, including even the polar bears, had gone there. But, not finding anything, they felt deceived, and had given Fox a good beating.
Fox learned that keeping people’s trust is very important, and that to get it in the first place you have to earn it with loyalty and always keeping your word.
Penguin and Reindeer devised another trick for Fox but, as he was no longer a bigmouth, he did not betray them, and Penguin and Reindeer regained their faith in Fox, thus forgiving him.
Moral of the Story: Life is all about learning from your mistakes and you can change your behaviour to become the person you want to be – and someone who is worthy of the trust others place in you.
WISDOM
WISDOM Story – ‘The Two Rabbits’
There were once two rabbits, Wanda the Wise and Frederick the Foolish, who were walking through a field.
They were good friends and enjoyed their strolls together.
On this walk, they came upon two carrots. One of the carrots had large leaves sprouting out of the top and the other looked much smaller from the surface.
Frederick was excited and ran up to the carrot with the larger leaves.
“I’ll have this one,” he proudly exclaimed and proceeded to extract it from the ground.
Wanda shrugged her shoulders and pulled out the other carrot, which turned out to be much bigger.
Frederick was surprised and asked how this could possibly be.
Wanda looked at her friend and replied, “You can’t always judge a carrot by its leaves.”
They kept on walking and came across another pair of carrots, again with differing sized leaves.
This time Frederick allowed his friend the first pick.
Wanda hopped to each carrot, inspected and sniffed them carefully and, to Frederick’s surprise, chose the carrot with the larger leaves.
As they each extracted their carrots from the ground, Frederick was bemused to see that his carrot was smaller than Wanda’s.
“I thought that you said that small leaves meant it would be a larger carrot.” He said.
“No,” replied Wanda, “I said don’t judge a carrot by its leaves. It’s also important to remember to think before you choose.”
Frederick nodded and they ate their carrots before continuing their stroll.
For a third time, they found two carrots, again with different sized leaves.
Frederick looked confused and didn’t know what to do. Wanda indicated that he could choose which carrot to eat.
The poor foolish rabbit pretended to inspect each carrot, but he didn’t really know what to do. He knew that he wasn’t as smart as his friend and he looked to Wanda with a confused expression on his face.
Wanda smiled warmly and hopped over to the carrots. She inspected them and pulled out one of the carrots.
Frederick shrugged his shoulders and went to the other one before he was interrupted by his wise friend.
“No Frederick, this one’s your carrot,” she said.
“But you made the choice and I’m sure it’s the bigger one of the two. I don’t know how you do it, but I guess you’re just smarter than me.”
“Frederick, there’s no point in having wisdom if you’re not willing to share the benefits of it with others. You’re my friend and I want you to have this carrot. A smart rabbit with a full stomach but no friends isn’t really wise is she?”
“I guess you’re right,” said Frederick with a full mouth, “As usual.”
I wrote this story as a reminder that in our search for wisdom, we must also search for a way to assist those around us with what we’ve learned.
Moral of the Story: The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus once said, “Of all the things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.” Be wise, share what you’ve learned with others and help make the world a better place for those around you.