Once upon a time, there was a man who was feeling really down. He worked hard, but nobody seemed to appreciate his efforts at his workplace. Despite having a loving wife, her complaints often overshadowed her expressions of love and gratitude. One day, he wandered to a beautiful sea of blossoms for a walk, hoping the serene scenery might uplift his heavy heart.
In this place, there was a gardener taking care of all the pretty flowers. The flowers were all different colours, and butterflies were flying around them. The butterflies seemed to really like the flowers. The man came to this place looking sad. His troubled expression refusing to be brightened by the natural beauty around him. The gardener saw the man's sad face and asked, "What's bothering you?" The man shared his problems with the gardener.
Listening carefully, the gardener picked a few flowers and sat down. The man was curious, so he sat down too. The gardener took the petals off one flower and made tea out of them. Then, he took the petals from another flower, crushed them into red powder to create natural makeup. Lastly, he cut some branches and made them into herbal remedies.
The gardener then asked the man, "Do you understand now?"
The man realised that just like a flower can have different uses, people can also do different things to help others. The gardener elaborated that the flowers in the sea represented individuals, each possessing unique inherent beauty. Some flowers stood out with brilliant hues, attracting butterflies, symbolising those whose excellence and outstanding performance garnered attention and praise—akin to the butterflies' admiration.
But life isn't only about doing things well and getting praised. It resided in contributing oneself, even if recognition wasn't guaranteed. Like a flower used for tea, cosmetics, or medicine, which no longer attracted butterflies, growing up and stepping into the world demanded embracing the act of contributing without yearning for rewards or compliments. External validation, like chasing butterflies, would never satisfy the void within.
The lesson was simple but profound. The man comprehended that true fulfilment came from self-appreciation, self-encouragement, seeking inwardly rather than externally. Just as the flowers of the field each played distinct roles, individuals could find purpose by embracing their innate qualities and making meaningful contributions, regardless of whether they attracted the fleeting attention of external admiration.
As the sun set and painted the sky with beautiful colours, the man's heart felt lighter. The flower garden, which didn't change his mood at first, taught him an important lesson. He understood that feeling good about yourself and helping others were the true sources of happiness. With this new understanding, he left the flower garden with a brighter heart, ready to make a positive difference in the world, just like the flowers that brought beauty and joy to the garden.