HOW RABBITS LEARN TO DEAL WITH THEIR FRUSTRATION









Pic.: Khushboo Gulrajani


Years ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found it very useful – was telling a nice story in two tenses… Past and Present. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people who were earnest to improve their English with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and tell it to someone.

Whenever frustration drives me crazy and to the edge, I think of these little rabbits, frogs and toads and tell myself: ‘Let me go back and live.’



HOW RABBITS LEARN TO DEAL WITH THEIR FRUSTRATION



PAST:


Once, all the rabbits in a jungle got fed-up with life. Fed-up of being hounded by everyone around – right from a dog to a wolf. “What kind of life is this… if living means only to become a lunch or a supper for someone stronger than we are?” they began to grumble.

So, the frustrated rabbits called for an emergency meeting to discuss the steps to be taken. “There is no hope for us… No matter how hard we try, we will not be able to live happily in this jungle,” they all came to a conclusion. Finally, one of them suggested that they all should march towards the nearby lake and jump together into it… and, there would go, once and for all, all their woes!

Suddenly, there was a new hope in the air! The rabbits did not wait any longer to end their problems… So, they all hurried in the direction of the lake. There, around the edge of the lake, the frogs and the toads had been merrily spending their time croaking with a happy melody. When they heard the commotion of hares come charging towards them, the little-ones got panicked and they began to throw themselves into the deep lake, causing a massive splash!

“What a sight!” the rabbits exclaimed, unable to believe what they were witnessing, “These creatures are even more frightened and hopeless than we are!” 

“Whose idea was it to come here?” the eldest of the hares shouted, “Frogs and toads are tired of us as much as we are tired of dogs and wolves… Jumping into the lake can never make us happy… Therefore, let’s go back and live!”



PRESENT:


Once, all the rabbits in a jungle get fed-up with life. Fed-up of being hounded by everyone around – right from a dog to a wolf. “What kind of life is this… if living means only to become a lunch or a supper for someone stronger than we are?” they begin to grumble.

So, the frustrated rabbits call for an emergency meeting to discuss the steps to be taken. “There is no hope for us… No matter how hard we try, we will not be able to live happily in this jungle,” they all come to a conclusion. Finally, one of them suggests that they all shall march towards the nearby lake and jump together into it… and, there will go, once and for all, all their woes!

Suddenly, there is a new hope in the air! The rabbits do not wait any longer to end their problems… So, they all hurry in the direction of the lake. There, around the edge of the lake, the frogs and the toads have been merrily spending their time croaking with a happy melody. When they hear the commotion of hares come charging towards them, the little-ones get panicked and they begin to throw themselves into the deep lake, causing a massive splash!

“What a sight!” the rabbits exclaim, unable to believe what they are witnessing, “These creatures are even more frightened and hopeless than we are!” 

“Whose idea was it to come here?” the eldest of the hares shouts, “Frogs and toads are tired of us as much as we are tired of dogs and wolves… Jumping into the lake can never make us happy… Therefore, let’s go back and live!”



GERALD D’CUNHA

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