Happiness story: The monkey and the shiny apples

In a lush and vibrant jungle, a large tribe of monkeys lived in harmony. They helped one another, shared their food, and looked after the young and old alike. But among them, there was one monkey who never shared. She took from others when she was hungry but kept everything she found to herself. While the rest of the tribe worked together, she spent her days wandering the jungle, climbing trees, eating delicious fruits, and resting in the shade. One day, during her aimless wandering, she came across a village at the edge of the jungle. Curiously, she peeked through the windows of the houses, searching for something interesting. That’s when she saw them, two of the most beautiful red apples she had ever laid eyes on. They were perfectly round, smooth, and gleamed under the sunlight. Without a second thought, she grabbed one in each hand and ran back into the forest, delighted by her newfound treasures. As she sniffed the apples, expecting their sweet scent, she smelled nothing. She eagerly tried to take a bite but immediately yelped in pain. Her sharp teeth hit something hard. These apples weren’t real, they were made of wood! But rather than feeling disappointed, she admired how perfect they looked. She decided to keep them, thinking that their beauty was worth more than food.

When she returned to her tribe, the other monkeys were immediately fascinated by the red apples. Never before had they seen fruit so perfect. They gathered around, staring in awe. Seeing their admiration, the selfish monkey gripped the apples even tighter. If everyone wanted them, then they must be even more valuable than she thought. She held onto them with pride, unwilling to share or let go.With each passing day, the monkey carried her apples everywhere. She would wander through the jungle, holding them close and gazing at them with satisfaction. But as time passed, a problem arose. Whenever she walked past fruit trees, the smell of ripe fruit made her stomach growl. She longed to eat, but with an apple in each hand, she couldn’t pick any food. She tried once again to bite into the wooden apples but only hurt her teeth. Despite her hunger, she refused to let go of her treasures. As the days went by, she grew weaker. The apples, which once felt light, now seemed heavier. Her energy faded, and her joy disappeared. She watched the other monkeys as they climbed trees, played, and shared food, but she had no strength to join them. She thought about putting the apples down, just for a moment, but fear held her back. What if someone else took them? What if they were lost forever?

Soon, exhaustion took over. Her arms ached, her stomach twisted in hunger, and she missed the feeling of soaring through the trees. Finally, with great reluctance, she made a decision. She set the apples on the ground and climbed a tree in search of real food. As she took her first bite of a sweet, juicy mango, relief washed over her. She realized how foolish she had been, holding onto something useless while ignoring what truly mattered. When she climbed back down, she looked at the apples one last time. They were still beautiful, still perfect but they had brought her nothing but hunger and loneliness. She left them behind and ran back to her tribe, eager to rejoin the life she had nearly lost. From that day on, the selfish monkey changed. She no longer clung to meaningless possessions, and instead, she shared what she had with others. And in doing so, she discovered something far more valuable than the apples. She discovered friendship, joy, and the simple pleasure of a shared meal.