The Flamingo and the Owl
Once upon a time, a flamingo woke up in the morning and said,
"It’s going to be a beautiful day, the sun is shining and the sky is blue!"
An owl, sitting in a nearby tree, replied:
"What nonsense are you talking? It's night. There’s no sun, and the sky is certainly not blue."The flamingo answered,
"But I know it’s day, and I see the blue sky, just look for yourself!" The owl looked around and said,"You're crazy. I'm sure it’s still night, and you must be color-blind, because the sky is not blue at all." The flamingo and the owl started arguing until the owl said: "I'll prove to you that it’s night, the sky is black, and there's no sun. Come with me." The owl took the flamingo to a forest full of owls.
He told them, "This flamingo thinks it’s daytime, that the sky is blue, and the sun is shining!" All the owls shouted:"It’s night! The sky is black! The sun isn’t shining. Stop talking nonsense and let us sleep!" The owl turned to the flamingo and said,
"See? I was right. Don’t ever say such foolish things again. Go to sleep." The flamingo was confused.
"I should’ve said nothing," he thought.
"It was going to be such a lovely day. The sky is blue, and the sun is so warm." But owls can’t see what flamingos see and the other way around. Should the flamingo now go to sleep? What do you think?Of course not. The flamingo must stay true to himself, enjoy the daylight, the sun, and the blue sky. The owl tried to prove that the owl’s way of seeing the world is the only correct one by asking other owls for confirmation. Had he asked flamingos, they would’ve disagreed. He either didn’t want to or couldn’t see through the flamingo’s eyes.But are the owls wrong then?
Aren’t owls known for their wisdom? Didn’t this owl clearly "prove" his point? Yes, but owls are nocturnal they thrive at night. And the owl should’ve known that flamingos live differently. In this story, the owl wasn’t wise. He was stubborn.Had he used his knowledge well, he would’ve gone to sleep. Then the flamingo would’ve had a beautiful day, and the owl a good night.
That would have made him truly wise. So: Use your knowledge. Listen to others. Try to see through their eyes. But act in the way you believe is best.That’s how you stay yourself and that matters most.If you don't, you become a copy of a copy of a copy. And a copy is never as good as the original.
The sky is blue. The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful day.
Whatever you do, do it with care and heart.You’ll get lots of advice in life. But which advice will you follow? That will shape who you become and how you live.
Reflection
This story reminds us how important it is to stay true to yourself, even when others don’t understand your reality.The flamingo saw the sun, the blue sky, and felt the day begin. But when surrounded by owls who only see the night, he began to doubt himself. Yet what he felt was real for him.What makes sense to one, may seem impossible to another.
And that’s not wrong it’s just difference. We are not all meant to see the world the same way. If you are a flamingo, don’t try to live like an owl. Because when you change who you are just to belong, you lose the very thing that makes you original. Be loyal to your own nature.
Don’t let others silence your truth just because they can’t see it. Listen, observe, learn from others but always follow the path that matches your way of seeing. Only then, are you truly alive.