Endeavors

Lately, I had been busy with my family in India and could not blog. I should post about my trip sometime with some of the photographs. For my dear readers, here is one short story.

This story is inspired from a presentation I received in a forwarded mail long time back. Unfortunately, I am not able to retrieve the presentation and even if I did, I would rather present this to you guys as a story. The story is about a frog that succeeded in his endeavors. Happy reading!

Much Love ~ Rohit

STORY

There was a village of frogs, frogs with different ages, different experiences and different temperaments. It was a society similar to any other society. In the center of the village there was a very tall tower. The tower was made of steel and had a spiral staircase. The younger ones would play around it. All the frogs wondered how the world looked from the top of the tower. However, none of the frogs had ever climbed the staircase. Many of them tried, but no one succeeded. One day a group of young frogs challenged another group for a competition. The competition was to make it to the highest point on the tower.

Soon, the news was spread in the village about the competition. All frogs wondered why this competition was being held if no one could have ever made it to the top. Some of the older frogs did not like this challenge. They worried that if the forefathers could not succeed in the task, how the younger generation was going to do that. They discouraged the frogs from not participating in such a challenge. However, some of the older frogs did appreciate this challenge and encouraged them.

The day of challenge was near and frogs started practicing to get to the top. Once again, none of the frogs could make it while the practice. Finally, the challenge day arrived. Now there was no time for practice. There was no going back. It was the fate of the frogs. All they could do was to take the challenge and participate in that.

All the village frogs collected around the tower. Everyone was cheering for the two groups. There were several frogs in both the groups. The two groups started together. Frogs started climbing the tower one after the other in trains. The initial process was exciting. Villagers kept cheering for all of them. In a short while, some of the frogs started feeling the fatigue. Some of them looked behind at the lengths they had covered. Some of them were satisfied with the lengths they had climbed. Some started giving up and climbed down. Rest of the frogs kept climbing up. The villagers were witnessing all this. After a long while, most of the frogs had given up and there were only two frogs that kept climbing.

The villagers were not very confident about their success and the excitement disappeared. They started yelling – “We don’t think you will make it to the top”. Two of the frogs kept climbing however. The voices were increasing – We don’t think you will make it to the top. We don’t think you will make it to the top. After some time, one of the two frogs gave up and took some time to rest. He was constantly listening to ever increasing voice. “We don’t think you will make it to the top”. He gave up and climbed down. He joined the group who was crying the same thing again and again. The last frog kept climbing and ultimately reached the top. He hoisted his flag at the top which said – Tower conquered. He found out how the world looked from the top. It was wonderful! The feeling he had was amazing. It was the feeling of conquer. It was the feeling of success. It was the feeling of doing something which no one had ever done. He felt proud about himself. His confidence increased. He climbed down with pride and confidence – that he could do it again, and again. The entire village was congratulating him on his success.

Why could he accomplish the task?

The villagers found later the frog was deaf. He did not (could not) listen to any of the voices. He listened only to his inner voice. The voice which always said – “try again, work hard until you succeed”.