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Short Stories and Metaphors
Category:
Health/Wellness
Publisher: Exposure Publishing
ISBN-10: 1846855578
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 152
Copyright: Jan 14, 2007
The stories are based on the adverse effects that behaviours, attitudes and actions have had on the lives of others. Therefore, if the listeners can benefit from recognising symptoms of their own issues that have caused problems, then there is the possibility that they can take corrective action before suffering strikes them.
THE WIND-BLASTED TREE (Explains how we can form negative attitudes
towards ourselves that are different to the reality of how we are perceived
by others.)
When the tree started to grow, it felt isolated. As it poked its growing
tip into the air, it was disappointed. There it was, at the top of a
wind-blasted hill where a bird must have dropped it as a seed.
It knew that it should be growing tall and straight, but the harder it
tried to do so, the harder the wind seemed to blow.
Its roots had to dig deep into the soil and rocks to avoid the sapling from being ripped away by the gales. Its leaves had to hold on very tightly to the twigs and branches to avoid being torn off.
It felt that it was ugly because it was not perfectly shaped like the trees it could see in the river valley below. They were tall, balanced and lush.
Birds used their branches to roost and nest. It seemed so very unfair that
it was bent and crooked as it grew bigger. And this sense of failure made
it stoop even more.
The tree wanted to be admired for its beauty, but it did not feel that
beauty was ever attainable. It wanted to be appreciated for its height, but
it knew that it would be stunted. Tall branches would be exposed and would
be snapped off by the stronger winds.
It wanted to be useful for the birds by offering its branches to hold
nests, but it was aware that building materials would be swept away before
a nest could be finished.
But what it did not know was that animals, birds and the other plants
admired this tree. They could see it from miles away and it became a
landmark to help the birds to locate their nests and the land animals to
get back to their lairs and dens. Even sailors used it as part of their
compass to locate fishing grounds in the sea.
The tree was used in stories to explain the benefits of being tenacious despite adverse conditions.
It would always be explained to young ones in the same way. For example:
"If that tree can grow in such an exposed place, then think what you can do with a much better environment. See how it has adapted to cope with the
wind, bending to go with the strength of the gusts rather than fighting
back against a stronger force and suffering. Be like that tree. Use your
ability to adjust to your surroundings in order to win."
Of course, the tree never heard such praise, and its parents were
elsewhere, and unknown, so they could not encourage it to be proud.
One summer's day, the tree was aware of some people sitting in the shade of
its branches, leaning their backs against its trunk. They were drawing and painting the view from the top of the hill, but not the tree. The tree felt that it was being used in order to allow the artists to capture the beauty of the landscape whilst at the same time turning their backs on the tree's ugliness. It felt sad. The artists were aware that there was a fine mist was in the air. They thought that it was the start of a sea haze, but it was a fine cloud of tears coming from the leaves.
The artists stopped their work and unwrapped some food. They walked around whilst eating and began to look closely at the tree. They discussed it, they admired it, they praised it so much. They talked about perseverance, determination and fortitude. They talked about it being a monument that was known for miles around. They said that the tree was the main reason for them climbing to the top of the hill.
Then, the tree felt so proud.
It was a strange thing, but from that day onwards, the people, birds,
animals and the other plants all seemed to notice that the tree appeared to be standing taller and straighter.
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