A crow lived in a forest and was absolutely satisfied with his life.  But one day he saw a swan and thought “This swan is so white and I am so black”. “This swan must be the happiest bird in the world “.  The crow expressed his thoughts to the swan.  The swan replied “Actually I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw the parrot who had two colors and I think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation “ The crow approached the parrot and the parrot exclaimed “ I lived a very happy life until I saw the peacock . I have only two colors but the peacock has multiple colors “ . The crow visited the peacock in the zoo and watched hundreds of people enjoying seeing him.

After people left, the crow approached the peacock “Dear Peacock , you are so beautiful .Everyday thousands of people come to see you. When people see me they shoo me away . I think you are the happiest bird on this planet “

The peacock replied “ I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet . But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have realized that the crow is the only bird who is not kept in the cage. So I have been thinking that if I were a crow I would happily roam around everywhere.”

This is our problem too. We tend to make unnecessary comparisons with others and sadden ourselves.  We do not value what God has given us and we entangle ourselves in the vicious cycle of unhappiness.

Let us learn to value the things God has provided us with and understand the secret of being happy by discarding comparisons with others with can only lead us to the path of unhappiness.

Prof. Chandru Kanaya

Faculty of Business Administration, London American City College, UAE