The Fable of Porcupines

( Stories Retold)

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm.

This way they covered & protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After a while, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone & frozen.

So they had to make a choice….

Either accept the quill-pricks of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.

They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the warmth & heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best Group is not the one that brings together perfect people, but where each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others & at the same time, admire the other person’s good qualities as well.

Better to be surrounded by ‘warm wounds’ than be frozen in solitude.

Published by Dr. Ramakanta

Pediatrician and occasional blogger

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