The Sad Peacock

This beautiful story about making the best of what you have is our first pick for this list. A comparison is inevitable and starts pretty early in life. Though ambition is not a bad thing, there is usually a very thin line progressing to greed. It can run both ways, parents may end up pushing their children so hard that kids may end up frustrated. On the other hand, kids may end up demanding for more, without regard to what they have already and this may end up making them selfish.

Here is a wonderful story about a peacock who almost went the same way.

So, there was this once a beautiful peacock who was all but dancing on a rainy day. He was busy admiring his plumage. However, he was suddenly reminded of his shortcoming in a rough voice. All the joy beaten out of him, he was almost in tears. Suddenly, when he heard a nightingale singing nearby.

Listening to the nightingale’s sweet voice, his own shortcoming was once again thrown into sharp relief became very evident. He began wondering why he was jinxed in such a manner. At that moment, when Juno, the leader of the Gods, appeared and addressed to the peacock.

“Why are you upset?” Juno asked the peacock.

The peacock complained about his rough voice and how he was sad because of it. “The nightingale has such a beautiful voice. Why don’t I?”

After listening to the peacock, Juno explained, “ that every living being is special in his or her own way. They are and made in a certain manner that serves the greater purpose. Yes, the nightingale is blessed with a beautiful voice, but you are also blessed – with such a beautiful and glittering plumage! The trick is acceptance and making the most of what you have.”

The peacock understood how silly he had been in comparing himself to others and forgetting his own blessings. He realized that day that everyone was unique in some way or the other.

Moral Of The Story

Self-acceptance is the first step to happiness. Make the best of what you have rather than being unhappy about what you don’t.