Every now and then, a good email forward lands in your inbox, and it makes you smile, sigh or think. This one made me do all three: Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition among themselves. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. When the race began, no one in the crowd really believed the tiny frogs would reach the top. They said things like, "Oh, wayyyy too difficult!" "They'll never ever make it," and, "Not a chance they can succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing one by one, except for those, who in a fresh tempo, kept climbing higher. The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But one continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn't give up climbing the tower. After a big effort, he was the only one who reached the top.
Naturally, all the other tiny frogs wanted to know how he managed to do it. A fellow contestant asked how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal. As it turned out, the winner who reached the top was deaf!
The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart. Always think of the power words have. Remember, everything you hear and read will affect your actions, so always be positive. And above all, be deaf when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams.
What's your favorite piece of animal wisdom, fable, story or experience which has stayed with you?
Here's one from my personal memory book: When my youngest son (I'll call him Court Jester, or CJ for short) had just turned four and his sister and brother were in pre-K and K, I taught his class at a church nursery school. All the kids are gathered in a circle around me and I'm asking about the different sounds animals make. There was mooing, cheeping, oinking, woofing noises all through the group, then I got to CJ. "What does the froggy say, son?" I ask with pride and love shining in my eyes. CJ, with deadpan look at me, right as the school director enters the classroom, "Bud...weiser."
If you're not old enough to remember those popular commercials, this one's for you---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVcbasIb8lQ
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11 comments:
We were always taught to watch the animals and they will teach you something. Before the storms have hit, the animal life around here goes a little haywire. Again, it goes back to the paying attention thingee.
Oren
I loved this story! SO often we listen to the negative from others and it pulls us down. So goes with our writing-- we need to keep climbing and not listen to the woes. I really like your oics and your whole look of your blog now is great!
*LAUGHING* on the Bud-Weiser thing ...haw!!!
I did love the frog story - so so true! It's easy to be negative, but much more exhausting...being positive takes, at first, a little effort sometimes--in the face of disappointments and the like, for example--but, it isn't exhausting at all; it feels free-ing! light!
loved this.
I remember those commercials. I'm still a big fan of the tortoise and the hare story.
Love it! I haven't seen that e-mail yet. Great moral.
Hmm. I think this one about the frogs in my new favorite. :)
Oren, I agree, and that's one of the reasons it's vital to visit with Nature often.
Thank you, Terri. Ya made my day.
You're a good little froggy, Miz Kat. *We'll have to go deaf in the writing game.* ;)
Ditto, Travis. Slow and steady.
The frog story is a good one, huh, Janna? I've got one about wolves I'll post soon too.
My own cat's story inspires me. She's not famous (well, SHE thinks she is), but she sat in a humane society cage for 4 1/2 months, with no takers, until I came along! So, moral of the story? Don't give up, good things are right around the corner!
Nice and awe inspiring story...now here's mine: Once upon a time there was this fair Princess called The Paper Whisperer. She LOVED picking up frogs and kissing them in search of her Prince Charming...bleh, eww and peeeyewwww! The Princess is now on a strict and very bland diet of frog legs! WATCH OUT, OREN!!
Joanne, that is a story worth repeating often. ;)
LOL, PW. Got any warts yet?
(PS to Oren...don't be "skeert." You know PW from long ago when her stepson was in Scouts."
I like my own cat's story, too- she's a Hurrican Katrina rescue kitty who survived against all odds plucked from floating down the avenue. And I love her ;-)
Awesome pet owner story, colby! Where were you during Katrina??
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