The Climb Fable

The Climb

the story of a teeny tiny lion cub

Leonard the lion cub entered into the tree climbing competition…

…but his size was the talk of the tribe!

Short Story

The annual lion cub tree climbing competition was just around the corner. The cubs lined up to enroll themselves in the race.

All cubs were growing at the same rate, well, all except Leonard. He was the teeny tiniest cub in town!

As Leonard joined the enrollment line, another cub said, “Hey shrimp, do you actually think you’ve got a shot?”

“Well, I sure do think I have a shot at winning, or at least placing second,” said Leonard.

“Ha! This kid actually thinks he has a shot at winning! He’s so naïve!” screamed one of the cubs while the whole clan laughed in unison.

“This race is for lion cubs, not kittens. Scram, little one!” yelled another cub while barely holding back his laughter.

Leonard felt embarrassed, but he stood in line and enrolled in the race

The ridicule lit a fire under Leonard. He was determined to win the race!

Every day until the race, Leonard practiced climbing trees for hours. He felt his body becoming stronger and his agility increasing with each climb. Soon enough, he was climbing in record time!

When the race rolled around, the other cubs ridiculed Leonard. But Leonard remained focused on his goal.

As the lion cubs waited impatiently for the results, the judges declared Leonard the winner! Because of his hard work, Leonard climbed the tree in 22 seconds! The cub that took 2nd place clocked in at 47 seconds.

While Leonard proudly wore his metal, the other contestants swept him off his paws. They carried him in the air while chanting, “Leonard! Leonard! Leonard!”

MORAL: Remain confident in yourself, even if you are different from others.

Personal reflection.

Leonard didn’t allow the mean- spirited comments about his size to get him down. Instead of feeling sorry for himself and walking away, he chose to prove himself to everyone and faced his challenge head on.

Because of his confidence and hard work, he prevailed. He won the race by a wide margin.

Like Leonard, almost everyone has a feature or shortcoming that others can easily tear apart.

Surprisingly, those who poke fun at others are generally trying to cover up their own insecurities by bullying someone else.

Maybe you think you’re too short, too fat, too thin, or too tall. To compensate for your insecurities, you likely seek approval from others. But you are the only person who can really make you feel good about yourself. All the complements in the world are of no use to a person who doesn’t believe them

Make today the day that you stop chasing approval from others.

Even if you are short, tall, fat, or thin, so what? Will this stop you from living a fulfilling life or chasing that promotion? It certainly shouldn’t.

Unfortunately, too many people allow their insecurities to dictate their worth. Don’t be one of these people; you can be the exception!

You are the boss of your life. And only you can determine whether you fail or succeed.

Chase every dream you have! Go for the girl, pursue that promotion, buy that house, or start your own business. With the proper amount of confidence and skill, the sky is the limit!

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What are your unique assets?

2. What are your insecurities and what can you do to overcome them?

3. How do you respond to those who intentionally put you down?