THERE GOES WITH THAT SILLY FISH, ALL MY MISERY!






Pic.: Malabika Ganguly

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
Havelock Ellis 
Once, the fishermen in a village had just returned after their daily catch. As they were busy sorting out the fishes, a Kite swooped down from the blue sky, caught a small fish by the beak, and shot up into the skies. Immediately, a hundred crows appeared from nowhere and began to chase the Kite, making a crazy commotion in the sky... To whichever direction the Kite flew, the crows followed it.... Kite flew West, crows did, too... Kite flew East, the crows did, too... Kite zoomed high up, the crows did, too... The Kite dived deep, the crows did, too...
Finally, the Kite, tired and frustrated, could fly no more... So, it decided to drop the fish...
The moment the fish was dropped, the crows left the Kite alone, and went after the falling fish!
The Kite quietly settled down on the branch of a nearby tree... From there, watching the insane spectacle, it concluded: “There goes with that silly fish, all my misery!”

I am very fond of this story. I have narrated it, countless times, during our PD sessions, and, I have seen everyone enjoying it...
There is nothing wrong in Kite picking up a fish and flying up into the skies. There is, also, nothing wrong in crows wanting that fish... But, the crows are stupid, crazy: they are not able to see the boat-load of fish near the seashore... They are after this one tiny-fish... Yes, they are after it like mad!
On the other hand, the Kite, who rightfully deserves the fish, tries to hold on to it as long and as tightly as possible... But, that simple wisdom easily doesn’t come its mind, too: that, holding on to that little fish - and the consequent tension and misery - are not worth it... It has to run out of all its strength, it has to feel the frustration... and, only through such pain and anguish, can it realize the importance of ‘dropping the fish’ – the letting go!
I do that, time and time again!
Because, as long as I live here, on this earth, I can not survive without ‘picking my daily fish’... I try my best to hold on to it as long and as best as possible. Then, only when I realize in my heart, that holding on to it is not worth it, I decide to ‘drop the fish’... Let go!
True: “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
GERALD D’CUNHA

Comments

Akshay Mehra said…
Beautiful post!
.. Akshay Mehra
June 27, 2014 at 3:21 PM
Pritesh D said…
Letting go is not easy. Great story and well-connected. Pritesh D
June 27, 2014 at 5:02 PM
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