The gift

In contemporary India, there lived an educated professional.

He was a very sensitive person. Because of his over-sensitive nature, he was torn between satisfaction and depression.

On the one hand, he was satisfied that he could educate himself to such a level where his peers, superiors, and society have taken note of his knowledge and accomplishments. Still, on the other hand, he felt depressed because his surroundings did not behave as per his wish and expectations.

Even the smallest behaviors of others gave him an intense emotional reaction, and his satisfaction turned into disappointment and depression.

One day, his childhood best friend, a socially well-respected man, who did not do good in academics but was running his business in the village, came to see him.

The childhood friend got quite a reputation in the village for being a happy + wise + +successful man.

One day, a childhood friend came to see his professional friend.

The professional told him, “I want to be an always-happy and +successful man like you. If you can teach me that, I will happily pay whatever the fees may be.”

The childhood friend said, “I think I will be able to help you, but I don’t think you have enough money to pay my fees, but since you are my dear friend, I will give it to you as a gift if you pay 100% of your attention to it.”

the-gift
Woman holding gift box, cropped

The professional’s ego got little hurt, but he respected his childhood friend, so he assured them that he would pay 100% attention to the gift.

The next day, a childhood friend brought a copper belt for him. The belt had the following sentence: “This too shall pass.”

“What is the meaning of this?” The professional asked. The childhood friend replied, “Always wear the belt. No matter the situation, before you conclude something as good or bad, pause for 5 seconds and read the sentence.”

If the situation is terrible, you will be able to disconnect from the discomforting thought and reach a mental state which would be filled with hope.

“A mind filled by hope cannot be depressed,” said the childhood friend. “I see that you have possibly the best material pleasures, but your body language shouts that you are depressed. The precise reason I came to meet you was that I got to know that you, my dear friend, were in emotional trouble.”

So even if you had not asked for help, I would have given it to you. That’s what friends do.