What you look for is within yourself

There was a crow among many other birds in the forest. He was very dissatisfied with himself as he was the ugliest among all birds. One day when he was seated on a branch of a tree crying over his state of unhappiness, a sage was passing by. He shed some drops of tears on the head of the sage. When the sage looked up, the crow grumbled saying that he was very unhappy for the colour of his skin and therefore wanted to become a parrot. The sage smiled at him and said that he would grant his wish on the condition that he had to go to the parrot and ask him if he was really happy. On being asked if he was happy the parrot replied in the negative. On being asked the reason he said that he was always under threat of being captured by the humans and caged. The crow went back to the sage and requested him to grant his another wish, which is to become a Swan. The sage again told him to go the swan and ask him if he was happy. When the crow asked him the same question, the swan said, ‘I have to always stay near marshy area. Even if I want to explore the beautiful world outside, I’m not able to do so as water is not available everywhere. Therefore I am unhappy about where I’ve to live day in and day out.’ The crow flew back to the sage and beseeched him to grant him his last wish, which was to become a peacock because people admire her as she dances very well and she has majestic looks. She is held in high esteem in society. He further added, ‘Your highness, I also want such respect to be shown to me as well. I eat the discarded foodstaff of humans. What a wretched life I am living.’ As usual the sage advised him to take the opinion of the peacock.The crow flew back to the peacock and on being asked if she was happy, she heaved a deep sigh saying, ‘I’m under the grip of subdued fear of being captured by the humans at any moment. So my life is a tale of uncertainty.’ The crow again flew back to the sage and reported the response of the peacock.

The sage then advised the crow. ‘Look, my dear child. God has made all of us unique and each of the creatures of this universe plays a pivotal role in maintaining the eco system of this universe. You should be happy about being crow alone. You’re safe from the threat of poachers and your life is more secured than those of parrot, swan and peacock. So be grateful to God- the creater- and live happily.’

Moral: So the moral of my story ‘ We should remain happy for what we are and not grumble for what we should have been…….