Skip to main content

The Pessimistic Dog



There was once a farmer who devised a competition between his dog and his rabbit. He made a hole in one of his biggest fields, and hid a carrot and a bone in it. He wanted to see which animal would find them first.

The rabbit was very cheerful and optimistic, and he threw himself into looking for the carrot, digging here and there, totally convinced that he would find it. But the dog was pessimistic, and after sniffing around for a bit, he lay down on the ground and began to complain how difficult it was to find one bone in such a big field.

The rabbit dug for hours, and with every new hole the dog complained even more about how difficult this was, even for the rabbit. The rabbit, on the other hand, thought that each hole dug was one hole less that needed digging. When there was no place in the whole field left to dig, the rabbit dug a tunnel to right under where the dog had been lying all that time. There he found the carrot and the bone.

And this is how it was that the dog lost due to his pessimism. Because, thanks to his great instinct, he had already found the right place at the very beginning!


Moral of the story

Many of our natural shortfalls can be replaced by a positive attitude and perseverance


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Angels

Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop. Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there. Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play. As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside h...

The Ass's shadow

A man hired an ass from another man. He paid him two shillings to lend him the ass for the day. It was a very hot day, and both men wanted to stand in the ass's shadow, so that they might be cool. But there was only room for one of them. "Go away," said the man who had hired the ass. "Go away! It is my shadow today. I have hired the ass."  " You hired the ass," said the owner," but you did not hire his shadow. It is my shadow." They went on, the hirer saying one thing and the owner saying the other. Then they began to fight, and while they were fighting one of them happened to hit the ass. Then the ass ran away. And it took its shadow with it !

The Two Goats

Over a river there was a very narrow bridge. One day a goat was crossing this bridge. Just at the middle of the bridge he met another goat. There was no room for them to pass.  "Go back," said one goat to the other, "there is no room for both of us". "Why should I go back?", said the other goat. "Why should not you go back?" " You must go back", said the first goat, "because I am stronger than you." "You are not stronger than I", said the second goat. "We will see about that", said the first goat, and he put down his horns to fight. "Stop!", said the second goat. " If we fight, we shall both fall into the river and be drowned. Instead I have a plan- I shall lie down, and you may walk over me." Then the wise goat lay down on the bridge, and the other goat walked lightly over him. So they passed each other, and went on their ways.