Once upon a time, in a village near the forest, there lived a young boy. Every day, this boy ventured to the forest's edge to play. There, he would spend his days, singing joyfully until the sun dipped below the horizon.
One fateful day, drawn by the boy's joyful singing, a tiny bird fluttered up to him. The boy was delighted; he now had a companion for play, and together, they sang merrily until dusk.
Reluctant to part, the boy gently captured the little bird and brought it home. Alarmed and frightened, the little bird struggled with all its might to break free, but the boy's grip only tightened.
"Why resist, my little friend? We had a splendid time playing all day. Now, I wish to take you home, so we can continue our play and songs forever," the boy remarked as he carried the bird home. The little bird continued to struggle, and the boy's grip tightened further.
A few moments later, the bird in his hand ceased to struggle. The boy, thinking it had understood his good intentions, hurried home. Upon arrival, the boy promptly procured a cage for his new friend. However, when he opened his hand to place the bird inside, he discovered that the little bird had passed away in his grasp.
The young child wept profusely, tears streaming down his cheeks. He regretted his actions; he never meant to harm the little bird. His only desire was to nurture and care for his new friend, so they could continue playing together in happiness. However, his good intentions had an unintended consequence: his little friend departed, never to return.
Time passed, and the young boy returned to his cheerful play and singing at the forest's edge. Alone, for there was no little bird to keep him company. Around noon, another bird joined in song and flew toward him. The boy was elated—a new friend had arrived, and they spent the day playing and singing together with joy.
As evening approached, the boy prepared to return home. The little bird, too, ceased its song and prepared to fly back to its nest in the forest. Although the boy longed to stay with his little friend, he chose not to chase or capture it this time. Instead, he let his little friend go, allowing it to fly freely as it wished.
"Fly, my little friend," the boy said with a smile, watching his new companion soar into the forest. "Perhaps we shall meet again and sing together tomorrow, or perhaps not. That's alright, though, because today we've relished our time together and shared heartfelt laughter."
Days passed, and the young boy continued to play and sing joyously at the forest's edge, albeit alone, as his little bird friend was absent. Then, one day, the boy heard the familiar melody of his little friend's song drawing near. The boy turned and smiled; his little friend had returned. They played and sang together until the sun set, with genuine smiles from their hearts.
Key Message
The takeaway here is that relationships cannot be forced, regardless of how much you desire or hope for them. People remain with you because they choose to do so, finding comfort and happiness in your presence or for various other reasons.
"Relationships - of all kinds - are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers." Kaleel Jamison
All relationships, no matter their form, are akin to holding sand in your hand. When you cradle it gently, the sand stays put. Conversely, the more you try to force it to stay, the more it slips away. Just as there are numerous reasons why someone chooses to remain by your side, there are equally diverse reasons why someone might no longer be with you. Imperfections are inherent in the world, including us, our relationships, and our approach to them. Some relationships are precious and worth nurturing, while others may be better left to conclude.
Learn from your experiences and let them make you wiser. It's wise to embrace reality. Even though you may have recognized and changed for the better, sometimes everything is still lost and cannot be restored. A relationship begins with the involvement of two or more individuals, but only one is needed to end it.
Cherish your relationships. Give them your all. Love those who genuinely matter to you with your whole heart, without conditions or judgment. Allow them to be content and at ease in your presence, just as they are, in the way they choose and desire. Enjoy and value the time and opportunities you have with them as long as your togetherness endures. Because beauty should be cherished and relished, as long as you have the chance and the beauty remains.
