Effective Stories

[jpmednis]

Hello everyone,

Here I'd like to post some very short stories I create and publish. Some are fiction, some are based on true events I witnessed and people I met. Their difference from "just stories" is that I deliberately include some elements in them, which (in theory at least ;) ) are helpful in the sense of self-improvement, personal growth etc. In other words, are related to my interest to psychology, philosophy, metaphysics or a mix of all.

Criticism (both related to my English, which is not my first language and to style) is highly appreciated as well as your own versions of such stories if you'd like to post them here.

P. S. Style of my recent stories may resemble compilations of Rumi stories (changed from poetry to prose), probably because I lately read a lot of him and still under impression.

[jpmednis]

The one written two days ago:

Once the tree growing on the rock and the rock talked. "You're so lucky, you're so huge and hard. Nothing changes or affects you. I'm so tired of whims of skies, winds and rains and scorching sun, said the tree. In Autumn rain whips me, wind bends me back and forth... in Winter heavy snow leans on my branches... in Summer hot sun burns my leaves... if only there always could be Spring, when sun is tender, rills feed my roots, I am in bloom! Then life would be so nice!"

The rock answered: "Lucky you, my little green friend! Wind erodes me, frost cracks me, sun burns me." And added inwardly "also in Spring rills, which feed your roots, they wash me out stone by stone. You are just too young and small to notice."

[DATo]

The one written two days ago:

Once the tree growing on the rock and the rock talked. "You're so lucky, you're so huge and hard. Nothing changes or affects you. I'm so tired of whims of skies, winds and rains and scorching sun, said the tree. In Autumn rain whips me, wind bends me back and forth... in Winter heavy snow leans on my branches... in Summer hot sun burns my leaves... if only there always could be Spring, when sun is tender, rills feed my roots, I am in bloom! Then life would be so nice!"

The rock answered: "Lucky you, my little green friend! Wind erodes me, frost cracks me, sun burns me." And added inwardly "also in Spring rills, which feed your roots, they wash me out stone by stone. You are just too young and small to notice."

Your story reminds me of the stories of Ivan Krylov. Very nice.

[YesNo]

I enjoy stories that have a moral. Both the tree and the rock need a more positive perspective.

[jpmednis]

Your story reminds me of the stories of Ivan Krylov. Very nice.

Thank you, DATo. That's a honorable comparison. :)

You are right, the idea is somewhat similar to fables of (ideas for some of which as we know, Krylov adopted from Aesop). Not sure if they kept in mind the psychological effect, thought, but likely they did.

Thanks again.

[jpmednis]

I enjoy stories that have a moral. Both the tree and the rock need a more positive perspective.

Thank you, YesNo.

My idea is actually to have moral "open-ended" so to say, possibly lead to many individual interpretations etc.

[jpmednis]

A young man came to a sage and asked him: "I'd like to become wise, but am afraid to choose the wrong master. Could you please somehow prove that you possess true wisdom?"

Old man replied: "Sure! If I make so that you walk on the water and then make you fear to wet your toes, all in the single day, will that count?"

"Oh yes, absolutely!", the young man heatedly replied, very excited that he found a real saint ready to mentor him.

"Alright", said the graybeard, "let's go!" and he led him to the frozen creek high in the mountains. "Walk", he said. A young man grimaced: "but that's ice, not water". "Isn't ice a water too?" the mage asked? "Hmm... true", shrugged the lad. "Fine, let's go further then"... and they went back into the valley, where far away there was seen the light from the fire (it was getting dark already).

As they came closer, the boy saw a huge pot full of boiling water on the fire. The wizard ordered: "Step in there!". The guy exclaimed "how can I?! It's boiling!". "Aren't you scared to even come close to the water, my dear friend?", smirked the geezer. "All the same substance, just different states."

The young man stayed with the old, so that one day he could become just as wise too...

[YesNo]

Good story I am going to have to remember to put in extra conditions should I test a guru.

[jpmednis]

One man decided to go fishing. He took the rod, the hook and what he though would be ideal baits... the stuff he liked: cakes, candies, bubble gum and some strawberry.

He sat on the lake for a long time... one bird flew by, looked at the man and took pity him. It chose to show him what fish likes to eat, landed on the nearby tree, picked a thick tasty worm then threw it into the lake right in front of man. Some fish immediately snatched the worm.

The man saw the scene and thought: "what a stupid bird, she feeds the fish with worms, obviously doesn't know cakes and strawberry are so much tastier..."