How to Positive in Bad Times

In the tranquil realm of Sundar Kingdom, there dwelled an elderly man whose life seemed to be woven with threads of simplicity and profundity. Though his humble abode nestled amidst the whispers of the forest, his presence stirred ripples of envy even within the heart of the kingdom's sovereign.

This man, known only as the Old Man of Sundar, eked out his existence through the sale of forest wood. Yet, it was not his meager earnings that garnered attention, but rather his peculiar wisdom and the ethereal beauty of his companion - a majestic white horse, unparalleled in the entire realm.

The Old Man's bond with his horse transcended mere ownership; it was a familial tie, a cherished connection that bound them inseparably. Despite the persistent enticements of wealth from the affluent and even the King himself, the Old Man remained resolute in his refusal to part with his equine companion. "This horse is not a possession to be bartered," he would solemnly declare, "it is kin, and kin cannot be sold for the pursuit of riches."

One fateful dawn, however, shattered the tranquility of the Old Man's existence. The stable stood desolate, devoid of the graceful presence of the white horse. Panic rippled through the kingdom, whispers of theft and misfortune intertwining like tendrils of ivy. Yet, the Old Man's response was one of stoic acceptance. "Whatever is, is," he uttered, his voice a bastion of calm amidst the storm of conjecture. "The truth remains: the horse is gone, and the rest shall unfold in due time."

Weeks passed, and just as swiftly as the horse had vanished, it returned - not alone, but accompanied by a cavalcade of twelve horses akin to its splendor. Murmurs of wonder cascaded through the kingdom, mingling with echoes of awe and disbelief. Yet, the Old Man remained unmoved, his demeanor unchanged as he faced the tide of admiration and speculation.

With the arrival of the new steeds, the Old Man's son embarked upon a journey of taming the wild beasts. Yet, fate, ever capricious, wove its tapestry of trials. In a cruel twist, the young man was thrown from one of the untamed stallions, fracturing his leg. Sympathetic voices filled the air, lamenting the misfortune that had befallen the Old Man's household.

But the Old Man, unswayed by the tempest of misfortune, spoke with serene conviction. "The truth remains," he intoned, "my son's fate is not for us to judge. What is, simply is. We shall navigate this trial with grace, as we have navigated all others."

Indeed, the trial proved to be a blessing in disguise. As the kingdom found itself embroiled in the throes of conflict, the Old Man's son, spared from conscription due to his injury, remained ensconced within the safety of home. While others mourned the departure of their youth to the battlefield, the Old Man offered solace, his words a balm to wounded hearts.

In the quietude of his abode, surrounded by the whispers of the forest, the Old Man shared his wisdom with those who sought solace. "Life," he mused, "is but a tapestry of moments, woven with threads of joy and sorrow, triumph and tribulation. Yet, in the face of uncertainty, we find our anchor in acceptance. We relinquish the need to label events as good or bad, and instead, embrace the ebb and flow of existence with equanimity."

Thus, the Old Man of Sundar Kingdom stood as a beacon of serenity amidst the tumult of life, his unwavering resolve a testament to the power of acceptance and inner peace. And in his words, whispered upon the gentle breeze, echoed the timeless truth: "Whatever is, is. The rest shall unfold as it may."