There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.
He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go? Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it's fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.
From India, Coimbatore
He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go? Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it's fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.
From India, Coimbatore
Dear Mr. Sardhar,
This story has lot of insights. From HR perspective I would like to add a few points :
1) HR needs to unlearn (the wooden apples) things when required
2) Leaving behind the wooden apples may be comapred with change management.
3) In today's world HR needs to be a strategic partner and not a mere driver of admin. functions. This is possible when you may "see" the future & quickly adapt.
Regards
Sandip
From Korea, Seoul
This story has lot of insights. From HR perspective I would like to add a few points :
1) HR needs to unlearn (the wooden apples) things when required
2) Leaving behind the wooden apples may be comapred with change management.
3) In today's world HR needs to be a strategic partner and not a mere driver of admin. functions. This is possible when you may "see" the future & quickly adapt.
Regards
Sandip
From Korea, Seoul
Vow...that is really a nice story... and nice messge conveyed.
Like the wooden apple, many of us holding many things in life without realising the hunger / thirst for knowledge - should not feel for the loss of wooden apple if anything comes on our way and move forward.
Regards
From India, New Delhi
Like the wooden apple, many of us holding many things in life without realising the hunger / thirst for knowledge - should not feel for the loss of wooden apple if anything comes on our way and move forward.
Regards
From India, New Delhi
Dear Mr.Mohammed, It’s nice posting, which can be taken for professional as well as personal growth... Thanks for sharing these kind of messages.. regards, Maria Merlin
From India, Madras
From India, Madras
Yes it is true, we, with our limited understanding, hold on to the things which have no value at all. Certain things I observe follows:
1. All that glitters are not gold. (Though old saying yet profound truth)
2. Attitude to change
3. Values we attach to things which are attractive and pleasing to eyes rather applying mind to understand the need and purpose of it.
Very good story.
Thank you
Franklyne
From India, Coimbatore
1. All that glitters are not gold. (Though old saying yet profound truth)
2. Attitude to change
3. Values we attach to things which are attractive and pleasing to eyes rather applying mind to understand the need and purpose of it.
Very good story.
Thank you
Franklyne
From India, Coimbatore
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