A story is told about a crow who lived in the forest and was absolutely satisfied in life. But one day he saw a swan. “This swan is so white,” he thought, “and I am so black. This swan must be the happiest bird in the world.”
He expressed his thoughts to the swan. “Actually,” the swan replied, “I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot, which has two colors. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation.” The crow then approached the parrot. The parrot explained,
“I lived a very happy life until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but the peacock has multiple colors.”
The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo and saw that hundreds of people had gathered to see him. After the people had left, the crow approached the peacock. “Dear peacock,” the crow said, “you are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they immediately shoo me away. I think you are the happiest bird on the planet.”
The peacock replied, “I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet. But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have examined the zoo very carefully, and I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. So for the past few days I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere.”
Most if not all of us are like the crow, swan, parrot and peacock. We are so happy and contented UNTIL…..we notice someone is doing better in business than we are, we notice a colleague who receives more favors from the manager, we notice a friend that is more admirable, we notice our family is not as noble as another in the village…and so the list goes on and on.
What we fail to realize is that someone else somewhere, just like the peacock in the story, is actually admiring something about us.We need to love who we are in our own unique ways. It is not bad to admire and acknowledge another person but comparison that makes us feel inferior, should be a no-go zone.
Know who you are and love yourself for who you are. You cannot be a crow and be as white as a swan or as colorful as a peacock. But the crow that you are, is actually free to fly unlike a peacock.
Know your strengths and let them push you to be better. You were created for a unique purpose and the purpose can only be accomplished by your unique attributes. Best wishes as we identify who we are and remain happy not saddened by what we see in others. Click HERE to read more posts by Mercy.
Photo credit: weknowyourdreams.com
JULIUS MUTHONI
Comparison is a pit of downfall. Contentment is key in personal upbringing. Living within ones means and appreciating need of ones unique nature and creation. Diversity is the value of society.
Mercy Karumba
That’s very true Julius. Thank uou