A baby turtle stood at the base of a tall tree, took a deep breath, and began his climb.
After about an hour, he reached a high branch, waddled to the edge, spread his little flippers, and leapt off.
He landed softly on a pile of leaves below, shook himself off, and went right back to the tree, letting out a sigh as he started the climb again.
Another hour later, he arrived at the same high branch, edged his way to the end, turned, flared out his flippers, and launched himself once more.
As he landed again in the leaves, the same routine followed: a shake, a sigh, and another determined climb up.
Perched on the branch above, two little birds watched the whole scene.
Mommy bird looked over at Daddy bird and murmured,
"Maybe it's time we tell him he’s adopted."
Moral of the story
Persistence and determination can lead to great heights, but sometimes it's important to know when to accept your limitations and embrace your true nature. The baby turtle's relentless climbing may have been admirable, but it was also futile, as he was never meant to fly like the birds.
This story reminds us that it's okay to accept our shortcomings and find our own unique strengths, rather than trying to fit into someone else's mold. So, the next time you find yourself climbing a metaphorical tree, take a moment to reflect on whether it's really worth the effort, and whether there might be a more fulfilling path ahead.
