The snake in the forest

Once upon a time, in the heart of a dense forest, lived a snake who hissed loudly and bit everyone who passed by. The animals feared him. No creature dared cross the forest path.One day, hidden in the tall grass, the snake overheard a mother mouse whispering to her little one:
"Never go through the woods. A terrible snake lives there  he bites anyone who comes close."

The snake felt a sting in his heart. He hadn’t meant to become a monster. He just didn’t want to be hurt. That evening, a wise old owl landed beside him. 
"Why does everyone avoid me?" the snake asked.The owl looked at him kindly. "Because you bite," said the owl. "You cause pain, so no one feels safe near you. You must stop biting if you want peace." The snake nodded slowly. He wanted to change. 

From that day, he stopped biting. He lay quietly when others passed, keeping to himself. But soon, the other animals noticed."Ha! The snake has lost his bite!" they teased.
"He's nothing now!" Some even began poking him, stepping on his tail, mocking him openly.Hurt and confused, the snake returned to the owl. "I did what you said. I stopped biting. But now they laugh at me and walk all over me. What should I do?" The owl blinked and spoke calmly.
"I told you to stop biting," he said. "But I never told you to stop hissing." "You don’t have to hurt others to protect yourself. A hiss reminds them that you still have strength. Show your presence. Stand tall. Let them know you won’t be walked over but do no harm."From then on, the snake learned the balance. He never bit again, but when animals came too close with bad intent, he hissed a warning, not an attack. And the forest learned to respect, not fear, his presence.

Food for thought

True power lies in the ability to choose peace over pride.
Are you strong enough to be kind, even when the world expects you to lash out? You don’t have to strike to be strong. Sometimes a clear boundary not a bite is all it takes to protect your peace.