Aesop | Greece
The Oak and The Reeds
A proud Oak tree mocks flexible Reeds, but during a hurricane, the Oak falls while the Reeds survive by bending.
Once upon a time, there was a big tree called an Oak living by a gentle stream. In the water, some tall, thin plants called Reeds swayed back and forth. When the wind blew, the Oak tree stood straight and tall, reaching up to the sky. But the Reeds bent down, moving with the wind.
The Oak tree laughed and said, "Why do you bend so easily when the wind blows? Look at me! I stand tall and strong."
The Reeds replied, "Don't worry about us. The wind doesn't hurt us because we bend with it. But you always fight against it. Be careful big tree, the wind can be very strong."
Just as they finished talking, a powerful storm came from the north. The Oak tree stood proud and fought the wind. "See how strong I am?" the Oak tree said proudly. The Reeds, however, bent low, moving with the storm. The wind became even stronger, and suddenly, the Oak tree was pulled out of the ground and fell down, lying sadly next to the Reeds.
The Reeds stood up straight again, safe and unharmed, while the Oak tree lay on the ground, unable to move. The Reeds had stayed safe because they could bend with the wind, showing that sometimes it's better to go with the flow and adapt, instead of resisting and getting hurt.
