Short Stories Inspired by "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse"

By Norma Natasha

Cute stories with deeper meaning have always had a “lift-me-up” effect on me, as they are somewhat practical and profound. The three little stories I am about to share with you were inspired by stories from “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.” They speak to us in a manner that we easily understand and are as simple as life. Yes, life is complicated, but the minute to hour activities that we indulge in are easy. I think that’s the best approach to life, to slow down and simplify life. Worrying about the future is one thing that most of us do from time to time, which has brought me here to my first story, about Maya.

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Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Maya who loved to explore the forest near her home. She often went on long walks in the woods, enjoying the fresh air and the peacefulness of nature.

One day, as she was walking through the forest, Maya came across a wise old owl sitting on a tree branch. The owl greeted her warmly and asked her what brought her into the woods.

“I love it here,” Maya replied. “It’s so quiet and peaceful. And I like to think about things as I walk.”

The owl nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, this is a good place for thinking,” he said. “What’s on your mind today?”

Maya hesitated for a moment, but then she opened up to the owl. “I’m worried about starting a new school next week,” she said. “What if I don’t make any friends? What if I’m not good enough?”

The owl looked at her with kind eyes. “Those are understandable worries,” he said. “But remember, it takes courage to try new things and put yourself out there. And you are good enough, just as you are.”

Maya nodded, feeling a bit better. “But what if I fail?” she asked.

The owl smiled. “You will never truly fail as long as you keep trying,” he said. “And remember, you don’t have to go through things alone. There are always people who will be there to help you and support you.”

Maya thought about this for a moment, and then she smiled. “Thank you for your wise words, Owl,” she said. “I feel a little better now.”

The owl nodded. “You’re welcome, Maya,” he said. “Now go out and explore the world. And don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way.”

And with that, Maya set off on her walk again, feeling braver and more hopeful than before. She knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, she could face them with courage and grace.

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Sometimes in life we might not feel important or useful. This is due to the mundane and repetitive events that might happen to us at a particular time. These, however, do not define us and we should always know that it’s not a coincidence at all that we’re here. It’s not by chance or mistake, it’s by design.  The odds of you being born are 1 as to 400 000 000 000 000, a mouthful isn’t it? We all have a purpose and we are all important. A good place to start would be to seek that purpose. Here’s a simple story about Ava and how she journeyed to find her purpose. It started by her ability to appreciate her abilities and her surroundings that awoken her sense of purpose.

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in a valley between two mountains, there lived a young woman named Ava. Ava had always felt like something was missing in her life, like there was a purpose she was meant to fulfill but she didn’t know what it was.

One day, Ava decided to climb one of the mountains to see if she could find answers to her questions. She packed a bag with supplies and set out early in the morning, eager to start her journey.

As she climbed higher and higher, the air grew colder and the winds grew stronger. But Ava was determined to reach the summit, so she kept climbing. After several hours of hiking, she finally reached the top of the mountain.

As she looked out over the vast expanse of land before her, Ava felt a sense of peace wash over her. It was as though she could see the entire world from up there, and everything looked so small and insignificant compared to the grandeur of nature.

In that moment, Ava realized that her purpose in life was not to achieve great things or become famous, but to simply live her life with purpose and meaning. To be kind and loving to others, to appreciate the beauty of nature, and to find joy in the simple things.

As she made her way back down the mountain, Ava felt a sense of clarity and purpose she had never felt before. She knew that life was a precious gift, and that her purpose was to make the most of it by living it to the fullest and making a positive impact on the world around her.

From that day on, Ava lived her life with purpose and intention. She volunteered at a local charity, spent time with her loved ones, and took every opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the world around her. And though she never became famous or achieved great things, she knew that she had found her purpose in life and that was enough.

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Gratitude, I believe, is one of the most powerful tools to use when navigating life. You learn so much by being more gracious and “counting your blessings”. By merely focusing on what you have and how grateful you are to be in such a position, it can help you redirect your current frustrations and focus on a positive mindset. This helped me in times when I felt as if things weren’t going my way, that shift of focus taught me to have a positive outlook and to accept that good things to happen, some just take a longer time than others.

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Max who lived in a big house with his parents. Max’s parents worked hard to provide for their family. Max was a happy boy, but like many children, he sometimes took things for granted and didn’t appreciate all the blessings in his life. Max had a lot of toys, gadgets, and clothes, but he always wanted more. He never seemed satisfied with what he had, and he often complained when his parents said no to his requests.

One day, Max’s father lost his job, and the family had to rely on their savings to get by. As the weeks went on, their savings dwindled, and they started to feel the pinch of poverty.

Max’s parents tried their best to shield him from their financial worries, but Max could sense that something was wrong. They had to cut back on expenses, cancel their family vacation, and make do with cheaper food and clothes.

Max was sad that he couldn’t have all the things he used to have, but his parents tried their best to make him understand that they still had many good things in their lives. They spent more time together as a family, playing board games and taking walks in the park, and Max’s parents reminded him that they still had each other and their health.

As Max observed his parents’ resilience and determination to make the best of their situation, he began to feel a sense of gratitude for all the things he had in his life. He realized how much his parents loved and cared for him, even when times were tough, and how lucky he was to have a warm home, food on the table, and a bed to sleep in every night.

From that day on, Max started to focus on the good things in his life and practiced gratitude every day. He thanked his parents for their love and care, he appreciated the meals they shared together as a family, and he took notice of the beauty in the world around him, like the colors of the sky during sunrise and sunset.

As Max practiced gratitude, he found that his life became more fulfilling and joyful. He felt more connected to his family and the world around him, and he was able to appreciate the simple pleasures in life.

Max held on to this lesson strongly and promised himself to always practice gratitude. He knew that the world had so many surprises in store for him, good ones and bad ones alike. He could not wait for what awaited him, as he knew he’d always find a way and a sense of comfort.

 

 

31 March, 2023