Ego & Arrogance Causes a Mighty Fall (Day - 2)
In a lush forest known as Greenvale, there was a powerful lion named Rudo. Rudo was the undisputed king of the forest. Tall and strong, with a magnificent golden mane, he ruled the animals with an iron paw. His roars echoed through the forest, a reminder to every creature that Rudo was the ultimate ruler. But as time went on, his pride grew, and so did his arrogance. He dismissed the smaller animals and ignored the advice of his wise old advisor, an owl named Sable, who constantly urged him to rule with kindness and respect.
Meanwhile, in Greenvale’s quiet northern corner, a clever young fox named Finnegan had been growing popular. Unlike Rudo, Finnegan was not strong or fierce, but he was cunning, resourceful, and compassionate. He helped animals in need, shared food with the hungry, and listened to everyone, big or small. The animals in Greenvale admired him and trusted him more than they did the mighty Rudo.
One day, Finnegan cautiously approached Rudo to suggest a partnership. "Rudo, the animals are growing unhappy. They fear you, but they don’t respect you. If we work together, I believe we could make Greenvale thrive."
Rudo laughed scornfully. "Why would I need help from a lowly fox like you? Go back to your burrow before I remind you who rules here."
Hurt but undeterred, Finnegan left, determined to continue serving the animals in his own way. But Sable, the wise owl, had heard everything. She knew that Rudo’s pride would be his downfall if he didn’t change.
Soon, a drought hit Greenvale. Streams dried up, and food became scarce. The animals were growing weaker and desperate. Rudo, refusing to leave his pride aside, hoarded what little water remained, drinking from a secret pool known only to him. The other animals were left to fend for themselves, growing hungrier and angrier each day.
Finnegan, however, gathered a team of animals willing to work together. He instructed the beavers to dig deep channels to find hidden water and asked the birds to scout for fruits and nuts in distant areas. Slowly, the animals began to thrive under Finnegan’s leadership, sharing resources and surviving despite the drought.
Eventually, word spread through the forest that Finnegan’s coalition was thriving while Rudo’s group grew weaker. Even some of Rudo’s loyal followers began to join Finnegan, realizing that he offered them the kindness and collaboration they needed.
Days passed, and the once-mighty Rudo was now left with only a few supporters. Alone and desperate, he was forced to wander the forest, searching for food and water just as the smaller animals once had. One day, he encountered Sable, who hooted at him knowingly. "Remember, Rudo, strength without respect is meaningless. True power comes from earning the trust of others."
Humbled, Rudo approached Finnegan, his head lowered. "I was wrong, Finnegan. I let my pride cloud my judgment. Will you help me now?"
Finnegan nodded, extending a friendly paw. "The forest belongs to all of us, Rudo. Together, we can make it strong again."
With Finnegan’s guidance and the cooperation of all the animals, Greenvale flourished once more. Rudo learned to listen to others and treated the smallest animals with respect. In time, he regained his place in the forest hierarchy—not as a feared tyrant, but as a trusted leader.
From that day on, Rudo understood that even the mightiest can fall if they let arrogance guide them. And so, Greenvale became a forest where strength and wisdom walked paw-in-paw, and every creature learned the value of respect and humility.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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81.7% Yes
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17% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Do Your Duty & Be Quiet - Day 6
Apologies for the delay, busy morning. Here is today's one :)
In a small rural town in the heart of New Zealand, there was a local washer named Hemi, who worked hard washing the laundry for the people in the community. He owned a well-behaved dog called Kahu and a sturdy old horse named Tahi.
Every day, Hemi would load Tahi with heavy bundles of dirty laundry and make the long trek down to the river to wash it. The river, known as the Whanganui, was a calm and peaceful place where Hemi could get the washing done while Tahi grazed nearby. After washing the clothes, Hemi would hang them on the riverbank to dry under the sun.
Once the clothes were dry enough, Hemi would load them onto Tahi’s back and head back to his home. There, he would hang the clothes on the lines outside to dry even further before folding them and returning them to the owners in the town.
Kahu, the dog, had a different role. While Hemi worked on the laundry, Kahu would patrol the property and keep an eye out for any would-be thieves or anyone trying to steal the clothes as they dried. Kahu would bark loudly at any suspicious person, ensuring the laundry was safe.
Hemi’s job was to wash the clothes with care and attention to detail, while Tahi’s job was to carry the heavy load to and from the river. Kahu’s task was simply to guard the laundry while it dried. Hemi made sure to feed Tahi and Kahu for their hard work. However, he had a tendency to favour Tahi more because, after all, Tahi was the one doing the heavy lifting. Kahu, on the other hand, only had to bark from time to time, so Hemi fed Kahu a little less than he fed Tahi.
Kahu, feeling neglected and underfed, grew increasingly irritated. One evening, as Hemi was asleep after a long day of work, a thief crept into the yard to steal some of the drying clothes. Kahu saw the thief, but instead of barking as usual, he decided to keep quiet in retaliation for the lack of food and attention. Tahi, on the other hand, saw the thief too, and began to bray loudly, trying to alert Hemi.
But Hemi was sound asleep, and the braying of the horse only annoyed him. In his frustration, Hemi rushed outside and, in the dark, mistook Tahi’s braying for a nuisance. He lashed out at Tahi in anger, thinking the horse was causing trouble. Tragically, in his fury, Hemi struck Tahi so hard that the old horse collapsed and died.
The next morning, Hemi was devastated. He found the clothes had been stolen, and his beloved Tahi was dead. Kahu, still hungry and upset, hadn’t barked as he should have. Hemi now realized the true cost of his actions: by not feeding Kahu properly, he had neglected his duty as a master and created a situation where everyone suffered. The townspeople no longer trusted him, and he had lost the loyalty of his dog, as well as the service of his hardworking horse.
Moral of the Story:
In life, everyone has their role and responsibility. Just as a horse is meant to carry loads and a dog is meant to guard, it’s important to recognize and respect the contributions of others. If you neglect those who help you, or fail to fulfill your own responsibilities, you risk upsetting the balance and causing harm. Do your duty with care, treat others with fairness, and don’t interfere with roles that don’t belong to you. When everyone does their part quietly and without complaint, things will run smoothly, and you’ll avoid unnecessary troubles.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.9% Second half of November
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44.4% 1st December
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16.8% A week before Christmas
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32.6% Whenever you wish
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
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