Lao and Xiao

Once, there were two young men of the village who wanted to seek their
fortunes to the city. Two best friends that despite being friends since childhood,
but unruly behavior is quite the opposite. The other is a hard worker, the other
often rely on the help of others. The excess is simply good at hanging out, so he
was much liked by people. While the only companions are the ones who tend to
work in silence.

However, both remain mutually supporting each other. Then, when both want to
change the fate of the city, they pledged to each other keeping one another.

One time, in the middle of the journey that must pass through the wilderness,
they break for a moment under the shady trees. They dance and tells about their
ideals in the future while working in the city later. However, in the midst of fun
chat, voice of the people for help. They were shocked, there is a weak voice for
help in the middle of the forest tends to be quiet.

A little bit of fear, both of them ever looking for the source of the sound.
Slowly, they approached the voice for help sounded like moans. After walking a
few steps, they were struck by a huge gaping holes in the middle of the forest.
They were peeking inside to the inside, where the sound source for help last
originated.

In the hole, it turns out there is a young man of drooping. He apparently has
been dropped into a pit trap which is usually installed to trap the animals of the
forest. Then, the two companions were hurried search for roots in the forest for
woven into rope to save the youth from the bottom of the hole. For quite a while
they tried to help the youth. A gaping hole because, quite deep. When the
afternoon ahead, the new youth was successfully removed from the hole.

Be careful, they helped give first aid on the youth. After giving him enough
drink and food is perfunctory, the youth conscious, though not yet fully
recovered.

“Thank you you have help me. Maybe if there was no you guys, my life has
already ended up in the hole. As an expression of gratitude, the accompany me
you guys would graduate to receive a little bit of thanks in the city later? “said
the young man.
“Never mind, we’re pleased to be able to help you survive the hole last. We’ll
still drop you into town, because it is our goal to get there, “said Lao, the young
man who is easy to get along.

Then, do not wait long, towards the dark, they were already out of the forest to
get to the city. While walking slowly, the three of them ever engaging
conversation. “Why would you both go to town? Where are you guys actually
want to? “asked the young man.

Xiao, an enterprising young man who works replied, “we are simply youth who
want to change the fortunes of the village to the city.“

“Gee, coincidence. Follow you guys with me. My father will surely want to help
people who have help me, “calls the young man.

Arriving in the city, it turns out that the young man is the son of a rich
merchant. His penchant for hunting animals in the forest. Since then, he has
been dropped into a pit in the Woods, until rescued two young men of the
village, Lao and Xiao. Apparently, it is a great luck for Lao and Xiao, because it
turns out they had saved the children of people celebrated in the city. So, do not
take a long time, they get a job and a decent wage by working to the father of
the young man.

Today, however, years pass. Lao and Xiao was considered to be his own family
by the merchant. Lao clever mingling, clever take on hearts for these families,
especially the youth of their children, so that everywhere is always both.
Unfortunately, both of them work just often play around and have fun. Instead,
Xiao which tend to be quiet but diligent work, the more trusted to handle the
Affairs of the family business.

Look at these conditions, the merchants want to give lessons to his son. “My
son, one day you will become the heir of usahaku. Therefore, I want you to
choose a confidant that you can count on. Well, before later you I give the
responsibility of taking care of this business, you have to test me. There is a
family business in the port there that need to be repaired. Tugasmu, is now
trying to fix the business. Choose between the Lao or Xiao to help you. If
successful, all this effort will I inherit is to you. On the contrary, if it fails, I’ll
give it to others that I think are most appropriate to continue this effort. I give
time until one year! “
Because it is more familiar with Lao, the young man ever choose to accompany
the task. Months pass. Since both are often only tinkering, then so much the
better, instead of the venture even the more severe condition. Then, when a year
had passed, both failed. They were facing the merchants with faces downcast
shy.

“O my son, you have failed to meet mine. You know, it’s like getting a ‘
windfall ‘, had a successful father ye continued.

So too with Lao, trust but not executed well. Good luck indeed often come up,
but it could be ‘ windfall ‘ it will not come up twice. Only those who are willing
to strive and work harder, then luck–luck is another approach. “

Merchants that continue, “Look at Xiao, although subdued, but he is a hard

worker. I see the potential in him. This time, I forgive you. But with the terms,
you and Xiao Lao must learn, how to work hard to be able to create good luck–
luck of others in your life! “

Marvelous Companions,

Indeed many people as if it got a sudden fortune. However, if he just kept

hoping the arrival of luck without willing to work hard, don’t hope that luck
will come next. Governance gets a “windfall“, it could be that undiminished
durian will collapse again.

Then, when the windfall was already obtained, try to manipulate the durian it
into something more useful. So is the time get luck. Don’t drown in pleasure.
But, make it as a “stepping stone“ to work more actively and diligently again.
Thus, imperceptibly, what is considered as good luck–luck another, will
continue to go to.

Continue to work, continue to work.

A man and his son were once going with their donkey to market. As they were
walking along by his side a countryman passed them and said, “You fools, what
is a donkey for but to ride upon?” So the man put the boy on the donkey, and
they went on their way.

But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said, “See that lazy
youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the man ordered his boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn’t gone
far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other, “Shame on
that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

Well, the man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took his boy up before him
on the donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passersby began
to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at.

The men said, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor
donkey of yours — you and your hulking son?”

The man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they
thought, until at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey’s feet to it, and raised
the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of
all who met them until they came to a bridge, when the donkey, getting one of
his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the
struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and his forefeet being tied together, he
was drowned.

The moral of the story is: Try to please everyone, and you will please no one.
It’s natural for us to try to win the approval of others, whether it means pursuing
a respectable career, following our peers, or acting in certain ways.We crave
social acceptance to reassure ourselves that we’re doing the right thing.

But whatever you decide to do, someone, somewhere will have an opinion about
it. People might question your motives, your reasoning, or nitpick at the smallest
details.

Sometimes, people can take an issue and blow it out of proportion. They take
offense over something. They might even make personal remarks. For instance,
when I wrote about Zara’s business strategy, one person was “offended” that my
article assumed he didn’t know who the founder was (whether he read past the
first two sentences of the article, I don’t know).

These criticisms can gradually chip away at you — but only if you let them.

Here are a few thoughts on dealing with criticism:

 The Fox & the Stork

The Fox one day thought of a plan to amuse himself at the

e x p e n s e of t h e S t o r k , a t w h o s e o d d a p p e a r a n c e h e w a s a l w a y s
laughing.

"You must come and dine with me today," he said to the

Stork, smiling to himself at the trick he was going to play. The
Stork gladly accepted the invitation and arrived in good time
a n d w i t h a v er y g o o d a p p e t i t e .

For dinner the Fox served soup. But it was set out in a
very shallow dish, and all the Stork could do was to wet the
v e r y t i p of h i s b i l l . N o t a d r o p o f s o u p c o u l d h e g e t . B u t t h e
Fox lapped it up easily, and, to increase the disappointment of
t h e S t o r k , m a d e a g r e a t s h o w of e n j o y m e n t .

The hungry Stork was much displeased at the trick, but he

was a calm, even-tempered fellow and saw no good in flying
i n t o a r a g e . I n s t e a d , n ot l o n g a f t e r w a r d , h e i n v i t e d t h e F o x t o
d i n e w i t h h i m i n t u r n . T h e F o x ar r i v e d p r o m p t l y a t t h e t i m e
t h a t h a d b e e n s e t , a n d t h e St o r k s e r v e d a f i s h di n n e r t h a t h a d a
very appetizing smell. But it was served in a tall jar with a
very narrow neck. The Stork could easily get at the food with
h i s l o n g b i l l , b u t a l l t h e F o x c o u l d d o w a s t o l i c k t h e o ut s i d e of
t h e j a r , a n d s n i f f a t t h e d e l i c i o u s o d or . A n d w h e n t h e Fo x l o s t
h i s t e m p er , t h e S t o r k s a i d c a l m l y :

Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment
yourself
 The hare and the Turtle
A long time ago there was a hare who wouldn’t stop teasing a tortoise for his
slowness. “I’m the fastest runner in the woods and you are the slowest one! We
should compete!” he jeered.

One day the tortoise, tired of the hare showing off, agreed to have a running
competition. “You may be fast, but I am persistent”, he said.

The next day the tortoise and the hare stood at the start, ready for the race.
“One, two, three, go”, said the hare and they started running.

The hare was a long way in front of the tortoise when he saw a field of
cabbages. He looked back and almost couldn’t see the tortoise. “Take your
time!” he shouted to the tortoise, “I’ll have a snack here and still I’ll win the
race!”

When he had finished his breakfast, the hare looked around to see how far the
tortoise had got. He still hadn’t passed halfway! Feeling sleepy after his snack,
the hare thought to himself, “I will have a quick snooze now and when I wake
up I will quickly run past the finish line.”

He fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of winning the competition. Time passed
and the sun was already setting when the hare woke up. He jumped and looked
around to see the tortoise a few steps from the finish line.

The hare rushed towards the finish line as fast as he could, but the tortoise was
already crossing it, winning the competition. “You don’t always have to be the
fastest to win”, the tortoise told the hare, who was sobbing in disgrace.

Once upon a time a long eared animal called a hare bragged how he could run
faster than anyone.  Instead of bragging to the larger animals like the deer who
was very fast, he bragged to the slow moving Tortoise and other small animals. 
Hare teased Tortoise.  "You are so SLOW!"

Tortoise was slow to anger.  But, one day, he had enough.  "Who do you think
you are?  I admit that you are fast.  Still, even you can be beaten." 

Hare squealed with laughter.  "Beaten in a race?  I don't think so.  Who can beat
me?  You?  I don't think anyone in the world can beat me.  Why don't you try to
race me?  I dare you!"
Tortoise was tired of hearing Hare brag.  "Someone should beat him just to
make him be quiet.  If no one else will, then I will race him."  This is how
Tortoise accepted the challenge to race the Hare.

The two planned the race course, the path they would both run.  The next day
they stood at the starting line.  At the end of the path was a post marking the
finish line.  Animals stood watching.  They knew Hare would win.  Still, they
cheered for Tortoise.  Hare had run around the night before telling all the
animals how badly he was going to beat the Tortoise.  He had worn himself
out.  He yawned as the starter said, "GO!"

The race began.  Tortoise began moving step by steady step towards the finish
line.  Hare knew he would beat the Tortoise and took his time.  He yawned. 
He stretched.  Then he scratched.  Then he finally began to run.

Tortise found it hard to move fast.  His legs hurt if he stretched them out very
far.  He moved step by step towards the finish line.  Hare caught up to the
Tortoise and teased him some more.  "You are so slow that I have time to eat a
good breakfast before I start running very far." And, that is what he did.  Hare
ran down a path to a farmer's field.  He ate a cabage and some carrots and got a
good drink of water.  Then he began to run.

Tortoise did not stop.  Tortoise did not eat breakfast.  Tortoise kept moving,
step by step towards the finish line.

Hare caught up to the Tortoise in minutes.  He knew he would beat the Tortoise,
so he said.  Let's make this a fairer race.  I will lie down and take a nap and still
beat you to the finish line.  Ooh, I am fast!

Tortoise did not stop.  Tortoise did not take a nap.  Tortoise kept moving, step
by step.

Hare woke up and shook his head.  The race... He needed to get running again. 
He again caught the Tortoise in a very short while.  His eyes saw more cabbages
in a field next to the path.  He had eaten a good breakfast.  Why not take a break
for lunch.  Hare stopped one more time and filled his belly with vegetables from
the farmer's garden.

Tortoise did not have lunch.  Tortoise did not stop.  Tortoise kept moving, step
by step towards the finish line.
The meal and the hot sun made Hare tired.  He laid down in the shade of a tree
and took another nap while Tortoise kept moving, step by step.

Tortoise moved all day.  As Tortoise moved step by step, Hare dreamed of the
way he would tease Tortoise after he beat him.  In his dream Hare was almost at
the post that marked the finish line.  That is when he woke up.  He saw Tortoise
who had been walking all day, one step after another, step by step.  Tortoise was
way ahead and nearing that post.

Hare began running.  He was fast.  As he ran by, the breeze he created pulled
fallen leaves behind him. He was getting closer to Tortoise, but Tortoise was
almost at the post. Hare breathed hard and ran faster.  His muscles ached
because he ran so fast.  Hare was getting closer to the finish line.

Then... one of Tortoise's feet crossed the finish line.  Hare leaped for the line,
but the rest of Tortoise's body crossed the line before Hare could make it
across.  Poor Hare!  He was beaten.  He had let himself get beaten because he
had been overconfident.

Hare thought that Tortoise would tease him.  But, Tortoise did not.  Tortoise
just said, "Slow and easy wins the race.  Just keep moving - step by step."
 The Dog, the Cock, & the Fox
A D o g a n d a C o c k , w h o w e r e t h e b e s t of f r i e n d s , w i s h e d
v e r y m u c h t o s e e s o m e t h i n g o f t h e w o r l d . So t h e y d e c i d e d t o
l e a v e t h e f ar m y a r d a n d t o s e t o u t i n t o t h e w or l d a l o n g t h e r o a d
that led to the woods. The two comrades traveled along in the
v e r y b e s t of s p i r i t s a n d w i t h o u t m e e t i n g a n y a d v e n t u r e t o s p e a k
of.

At nightfall the Cock, looking for a place to roost, as was

his custom, spied nearby a hollow tree that he thought would
d o v e r y n i c e l y f or a ni g h t ' s l o d g i n g . T h e D o g c o u l d c r e e p
i n s i d e a n d t h e C o c k w o u l d f l y u p o n o n e o f t h e b r a n c h e s . So
s a i d , s o d o n e , a n d b o t h s l e p t v e r y c o m f or t a b l y .

W i t h t h e f i r s t g l i m m er o f d a w n t h e C o c k a w o k e . F o r t h e
m o m e n t h e f o r g ot j u s t w h e r e h e w a s . H e t h o u g h t h e w a s s t i l l i n
the f ar m y a r d w h e r e it had been his duty to arouse the
household at daybreak. So standing on tip-toes he flapped his
w i n g s a n d c r o w e d l u s t i l y . B u t i n s t e a d o f a w a k e n i n g t h e f a r m er ,
he awakened a Fox not f ar off in the wood. The Fox
immediately had rosy visions of a very delicious breakfast.
H u r r yi n g t o t h e t r e e w h e r e t h e C o c k w a s r o o s t i n g , h e s a i d v e r y
politely:

" A h e ar t y w e l c o m e t o o ur w o o d s , h o n or e d s i r . I c a n n o t
tell you how glad I am to see you here. I am quite sure we shall
become the closest of friends."
 " I f e e l h i g h l y f l a t t er e d , k i n d s i r , " r e p l i e d t h e C o c k s l y l y .
"If you will please go around to the door of my house at the
f o o t of t h e t r e e , m y p o r t er w i l l l e t y o u i n . "

T h e h u n g r y b ut u n s u s p e c t i n g Fo x , w e n t ar o u n d t h e t r e e a s
he was told, and in a twinkling the Dog had seized him.

Those who try to deceive may expect to be paid in their own coin.