Ants

A lesson I learned from my Dad, a pretty successful man, as a 4 year old (that I'm hoping some other people might learn...much later in life.)

<<In Thiruchi, India, playing in my Uncle's background>> Dad: Hari kannu, what are you doing?

Me: Playing with the ants...I put some sugar cubes in a pile. I want to see them bite off clumps and take them away. But every time I cup my hands to force them near the cubes, they run even farther away...

Dad: (laughs) I'll help you, but first come do some multiplication tables with me.

<<later that evening>>

Me: Appa! Ingai vaanga! Look! They're breaking down the cubes and carrying them away! <<mesmerized by the rows of ants>> \

Dad: Let's help them out <<lifts his sandal to step on a line of ants>>

Me: No appa! Niruthanga! Dad: <<Moves foot safely away from ants>>Exactly. When you looked away, the hardworking ants did their job. Like how you do your multiplication tables better in school and when competing with your cousins than when I'm forcing you. <<I look away sheepishly>>

Dad: <<smiles>>You see we're not too different from ants. Hard workers will rise to meet the challenge. But if you corner them in your cupped hands, or worse, step on them...you squelch their ability.