Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived two trees named Oakley and Willow. They were planted side by side, and as they grew, they became the best of friends.
Oakley was a strong and proud tree, with a sturdy trunk and branches that stretched towards the sky. Willow, on the other hand, was a gentle and flexible tree, with a slender trunk and branches that swayed in the wind.
One day, a fierce storm rolled in, bringing strong winds and heavy rains. Oakley, confident in his strength, stood tall and rigid, refusing to bend or flex. Willow, however, flexed and swayed with the wind, yielding to its force.
When the storm passed, Oakley was broken and battered, his branches snapped and his trunk split. Willow, on the other hand, was unscathed, her flexibility and willingness to yield having saved her from harm.
The villagers, who had watched the storm from a distance, came to survey the damage. They saw Oakley, broken and battered, and Willow, standing tall and unscathed.
One of the villagers, a wise old man, turned to the others
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One of the villagers, a wise old man, turned to the others and said, "This is a lesson for all of us. Rigidity and pride can lead to breakage and harm, while flexibility and humility can lead to strength and resilience."
The moral of the story is that flexibility and humility are often more important than strength and pride. By being willing to yield and adapt, we can often avoid harm and find strength in our vulnerability.
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