Life Lessons from Our Favorite Fables
From fabled past to storied future.
When we were young, golden rules, Little Golden Books and a whole host of animal-a-trons were recruited to teach us important lessons. Just because we’re older now doesn’t mean we can’t hearken back to some of these truisms, and use them to propel us into a winning second half. Their meaning has endured (and let’s face it, so have you), so let’s give them a second look with fresh, grown-up eyes.
The North Wind and the Sun.
The Recap: Wind and Sun decide to have a little contest to see who can get a traveler to remove his cape. The Wind gives it his best shot, blasting the traveler with gusts that only make the traveler clutch his cape around him tighter. The Sun then warms the traveler until he removes the cape.
Today’s Lesson: Obvi, being nice and warm will get you a lot further with people than spewing hot air.
The Lion and the Mouse.
The Recap: Lion is sleeping. Mouse wakes him. Mouse pleas for mercy (and points out his unworthiness as prey) and Lion relents. Later, when the Lion is netted by hunters, it is the Mouse who gnaws through the ropes and frees him.
Today’s Lesson: You never know where help can come from. As we started The Verse, people we met along the way (and hope we’ve treated well) pitched in, sometimes in ways we didn’t expect.
The Tortoise and the Hare.
The Recap: Hare brags about his speed and challenges the animals to a race. Tortoise accepts the challenge, Hare races ahead and decides to nap for laughs, and Tortoise beats him.
Today’s Lesson: With our oh-so-online life these days, it’s easy to “compare and despair”—and we all do it. We think everyone (literally, everyone) is moving faster and living better. Remember that only you can win your own race. Catch ‘em napping.
The Bell and the Cat.
The Recap: Mice are sick of living in fear of Cat and host a Zoom to brainstorm. Enterprising mouse offers that they should put a bell on the Cat so they will hear it coming. Wiser and older mouse (see that?) raises a virtual hand and asks, “who will put the bell on the Cat?”
Today’s Lesson: Big ideas are great, but without execution they matter little. Be a person who can both have creative ideas and put them into action.
The Rose and the Amaranth.
The Recap: The Amaranth admires the Rose’s beauty. The Rose admire’s the Amaranth’s longevity.
Today’s Lesson: We all have enviable traits. Sometimes, we assume that because we value something about someone, that they couldn’t possibly be jealous of things we have. Let’s celebrate all our gifts.
