I never dreamed of so much happiness

when I was the ugly duckling.

-- Hans Christian Andersen

Inspirational Short Story, Female Fantasy Art, Relaxing Music

The ugly duckling was not really ugly at all, he was just different.

The other ducks teased and pecked and even bit him until the ugly duckling flew away. He wandered around for a year, and was treated as an outcast everywhere.

In the spring, he saw a group of swans on a lake, and wanted very much to join them.

As he swam out toward them, he was astounded to notice his reflection in the water -- he was a swan! The other swans welcomed him warmly, and found him to be beautiful.

Most of us go through times when we feel different from those around us.

These are painful and lonely times, but it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with us.

Like the ugly duckling, we will come into a time when we will be loved.

All the pain and loneliness we have felt will help us fully appreciate the acceptance when we find it.

Sometimes it's worse to win a fight than to lose.

-- Billie Holiday

Inspirational Short Story, Female Fantasy Art, Relaxing Music

We all see things differently.

It is part of the wonderful variety of the world that we all have different points of view.

We've all seen baseball players arguing with an umpire over a close call, but, in order to play the game, they must accept the umpire's judgment.

When we stubbornly refuse to let friends or family members speak their ideas simply because we disagree with them, we risk the loss of a friend or the understanding of a family member.

It is when we allow others to disagree that we take a step forward -- a step that opens our ears and our hearts to all sorts of people and ideas.

__________

11/04/2024

Victorian flower, jug and basket from Sonya's Very Victorian Page (dead link)

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