Storytime: What can we learn from Asope's fables?

It's said that our lives begin and end with stories. Many times we find ourselves in a conversation where a simple story brings forth an incredible lesson. It could be during a sales pitch, concluding a boardroom meeting, a way of saying no to a proposal, mentoring someone, or just for laughs. That's the power of storytelling.

Starting today, every week, I'll write and publish a short story - a modern-day take away from Aesop's fables, and we'll explore what we can learn from them. Some weeks will feature stories from nature, whether it's about an unfamiliar animal or a dog. Either way, you'll be armed with a story, enabling you to learn something new or see things from a different perspective. Let's stimulate your thinking, shall we?

The milk seller and her pots of milk.

A milk seller was carrying pots of milk from the farmhouse. With each trip to the farmhouse, carrying the pot of milk, she delighted herself. Her face lit up with excitement like a child who has just discovered her lost favorite plaything. She began to daydream about the money that would come from selling the milk. In her mind, she planned: "With the money from the milk, I'll be able to buy at least 300 eggs. Assuming there are no mishaps, those eggs will produce 250 chickens. The chickens will be ready for the market, fetching a handsome price. By the end of the year, I'll have enough money to buy a new gown. I'll wear that dress to the grand year-end party, where eligible suitors search for their future spouse. She imagined to herself, during the party, when all the young fellows propose to me, I'll disdainfully reject each one." In that moment, she tossed her head in agreement with her thoughts and stumbled. It was like fate had intervened. She fell onto the pots, breaking them into 100 pieces, and all her grand plans vanished.

The lesson? Do not count your chickens before they hatch. How many times have you daydreamed about something, only for it to go wrong? Back when I worked as a flight attendant, I made the biggest mistakes when I received compliments from my supervisor or passengers. Their compliments often ended with statements like, "I will write to the office about this amazing experience" or "I'll give you an incredible review at the end of the flight." What followed was daydreaming about being called to the office, with my manager offering congratulations. Then…I would make a mistake or blunder, something completely out of the ordinary. Never daydream when you need to focus.

I've noticed this happening in life as well. It's like the saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Planning is not bad. It's not wrong to plan about where we want to be, what we want to achieve, and when we want to achieve it. But always remember, life is full of twists, turns, and interesting outcomes - highs and lows. Life is unpredictable.

So how do we navigate the unpredictability of life's maze? Set aside time to write down your big, audacious, hairy, goals - the one that really tug at your heart. Break them down into achievable weekly goals. Then, jot down what you want to achieve each day and focus on it. However, keep in mind that there will be days when you'll feel like the milk seller. Days when you'll stumble and fall, metaphorically spilling your milk (you know what they say about spilled milk). Those are the times that will define who you are. They're times to be resilient and reflect on how much worse it could have been. Be grateful for those experiences. Tomorrow will bring new opportunities. And when tomorrow arrives, make the opportunity smile.

Whatever journey you are on, focus on it. Don't daydream about how you will be successful and get that big mansion and that gorgeous girl. Focus on the present. Like Victo Frankl said, "Don't aim at success." I will add that you should aim at what will get you the success you crave.

What other life lessons can you share with the audience? Remember, there are so many lessons to learn from this, and I've just mentioned a couple. I look forward to your comments.