There once was a horse who lived on a large farmland with grassy fields and wide-open plains. There were endless fields of tall green and yellow grass with trees, sunshine, and a lake nearby where the horse lived. The horse used to gait and walk, canter and gallop all day long. The horse ate grass when he liked. The horse rested and ran as his heart pleased. The horse enjoyed an untethered and pleasing existence.
But one fine day, the horse’s head caught a strange notion while walking in the fields. The horse thought that he had been doing what he does for a long time now. And will probably continue to do the same things furthermore in life. Then the horse’s mind had an unsettling thought. The horse wondered if there was more to life than all that he did in his days and in his nights. Upon careful pondering, the horse became convinced that there is certainly more to life than this. There must be something else which would give deeper meaning to the horse’s existence.
In his intense thought, the horse observed the other creatures around the vast lands. There were flocks of sheep, bands of jays, colonies of ants, gulls, herds of cattle- cows, goats & pigs. All sorts of wild and domestic animals were together in that land. All animals were together in pairs, or families or simply in groups. This assured the horse that he had now discovered what was missing- affirmation from someone else and kinship. The horse had to become a part of something where he was also acknowledged for his existence.
Engaged in thoughts, the horse one day came across a pond. The pond had all sorts of fish in it. The horse was engrossed and enticed by the lives of the fish. The horse observed all the fishes living and doing so many things together. The fish travelled together, ate together, laughed together and spent time together. The horse saw different fishes mingling together, swimming from school to school and often accompanied by their favourite companions. The horse saw them living their lives happily and was almost envious of them having a past, a present and a bright future together. The horse hadn’t fully understood it yet, but their peace and harmony made him feel this is something worth pursuing in life.
After many days of earnest deliberation, the horse made up his mind to join the fish. The horse decided that he would jump into the pond to proceed in his quest for a more heartfelt form of life. The horse genuinely believed that if he finds the right fish to be with, he is going to resolve his heart’s yearning.
With his eyes and mind set on jumping in, one late afternoon, the horse reached the pond. Just as the horse was about to jump inside, something strange happened. Something ordinary but revealing. The horse saw his own reflection in the pond’s water. And then dawned upon the horse, a moment of consciousness and clarity. The horse, through his reflection, realized a simple thing. Something which he had all but forgotten recently. The fact that he is a horse.
Suddenly a brainwave rushed through the horse’s head. The horse noticed how mistaken he was by trying to fit in with the fish in his quest for a deeper meaning to life. The horse distressingly discerned that he is a horse and wasn’t meant to be with fish or live like them. The horse was supposed to neigh, gallop, whinny and run about in the fields.
The fish represented contentment and it was alluring to live with and just like them, the horse recognized that no number of fish or swimming would make the horse happier or satisfied. Because the truth is that the horse is a horse. And the horse would neigh and run, as horses do. The horse cannot swim like the fish or live life like them, however important it may seem.
This made the horse turn back onto the fields of his vast land. The horse accepted his life and role as a horse. The horse decided he will not try to be something he is not and embrace his own way of life. This made the horse discover his own individual self and accept himself, his lifestyle as it was. As it is supposed to be. All things, good or bad, are supposed to happen to the horse in the same life. The horse now successfully acknowledged and embraced himself and went back to his life of neighing, eating grass and galloping around.
The horse now rediscovered his lost sense of self and learnt that acceptance sometimes, for some animals, must come from within.
In his intense thought, the horse observed the other creatures around the vast lands. There were flocks of sheep, bands of jays, colonies of ants, gulls, herds of cattle- cows, goats & pigs. All sorts of wild and domestic animals were together in that land. All animals were together in pairs, or families or simply in groups. This assured the horse that he had now discovered what was missing- affirmation from someone else and kinship. The horse had to become a part of something where he was also acknowledged for his existence.
Engaged in thoughts, the horse one day came across a pond. The pond had all sorts of fish in it. The horse was engrossed and enticed by the lives of the fish. The horse observed all the fishes living and doing so many things together. The fish travelled together, ate together, laughed together and spent time together. The horse saw different fishes mingling together, swimming from school to school and often accompanied by their favourite companions. The horse saw them living their lives happily and was almost envious of them having a past, a present and a bright future together. The horse hadn’t fully understood it yet, but their peace and harmony made him feel this is something worth pursuing in life.
After many days of earnest deliberation, the horse made up his mind to join the fish. The horse decided that he would jump into the pond to proceed in his quest for a more heartfelt form of life. The horse genuinely believed that if he finds the right fish to be with, he is going to resolve his heart’s yearning.
With his eyes and mind set on jumping in, one late afternoon, the horse reached the pond. Just as the horse was about to jump inside, something strange happened. Something ordinary but revealing. The horse saw his own reflection in the pond’s water. And then dawned upon the horse, a moment of consciousness and clarity. The horse, through his reflection, realized a simple thing. Something which he had all but forgotten recently. The fact that he is a horse.
Suddenly a brainwave rushed through the horse’s head. The horse noticed how mistaken he was by trying to fit in with the fish in his quest for a deeper meaning to life. The horse distressingly discerned that he is a horse and wasn’t meant to be with fish or live like them. The horse was supposed to neigh, gallop, whinny and run about in the fields.
The fish represented contentment and it was alluring to live with and just like them, the horse recognized that no number of fish or swimming would make the horse happier or satisfied. Because the truth is that the horse is a horse. And the horse would neigh and run, as horses do. The horse cannot swim like the fish or live life like them, however important it may seem.
This made the horse turn back onto the fields of his vast land. The horse accepted his life and role as a horse. The horse decided he will not try to be something he is not and embrace his own way of life. This made the horse discover his own individual self and accept himself, his lifestyle as it was. As it is supposed to be. All things, good or bad, are supposed to happen to the horse in the same life. The horse now successfully acknowledged and embraced himself and went back to his life of neighing, eating grass and galloping around.
The horse now rediscovered his lost sense of self and learnt that acceptance sometimes, for some animals, must come from within.
"The author feels getting older isn't helping his growing up much.
And he is slowly becoming Mr. Peanutbutter"
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