The Big Picture

The Little Gym Blog
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” – Henry James

Love grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others. A proven universal truth.

As we grow up and navigate life, we often forget lessons that we were taught as a child : especially the importance of sharing.

A young professional lived alone in a big city.

Every day, on his way back from work. He bought fruits and vegetables. From one particular shop. Run by a very old lady – frail and withered.

Every day, the same conversation happened between the two of them:

The young man used to tell her: “Grandma, I think the fruits and vegetables that you sold me yesterday were rotten. Please do check them today before you give it to me”

The old woman would take a bite from one of the fruits and find them to be perfectly all right. She used to tell the man, “Son, I think these are fine to eat. You can safely take them home.” The man used to reluctantly agree.

This went on for several days,

The man bought fruits and vegetables from the old lady’s shop and demanded that she check them by biting into them.

Finally, fed up with the ordeal, the woman asked him, “Why do you do this every day?” The young man did not answer. Just smiled and walked away.

The truth emerged the day the man went home to his mother – who lived in the village – and recounted the story. The reason he kept insisting that the old woman take a bite or two of fruits was because she looked frail. He noticed her working without breaks and decided that the best way to help her get nutrition was for him to pretend that her fruits were rotten! So that she could check them.

Once, a neighbour who sat in the store next to the old woman asked her, “Why do you keep entertaining this fellow?”

The old woman smiled and replied, “Because I know he cares about me and only comes here to ensure I eat. He thinks I am not aware of his act of kindness, but I am. Whenever he is not looking, I slip a portion of extra fruits or vegetables into his bag.”

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