The Non-Stop Nightingale Fable

A story about the importance of self-care to offering care for others.

Joey the nightingale took pride in his nighttime vocal routine. The minute it turned to dusk, he started belting out one beautiful chorus after another.

He continued on into the night. Then, one day, his practice unexpectedly turned him into a hero…

Each night, Joey’s mom would always say to him, “Joey, it’s time to come in, dear. You’ve done enough vocal practice for today.”

But Joey knew that the time he spent creating his beautiful songs would pay off one day.

No sooner than having that thought did an opportunity pop up for Joey. He was about to start singing one night when he heard a faint cry, “Help me! Help me!”

When he looked down, he saw that his neighbor’s newborn nightingale had fallen out of the nest and into the bushes below. And just to the right, there was a stray cat trying to reach for the hatchling to gobble him up.

Joey thought to himself, “Oh, I must help that poor hatchling! I wouldn’t be able to chase away that cat on my own, but I can definitely sound the alarm for help!”

And with that, Joey released his loudest and most piercing alarm call that traveled throughout the neighborhood. In no time, a watch of nightingales came out of nowhere, swooped down on the unsuspecting cat, and chased him away.

The hatchling’s mom quickly picked him up and carried him back to safety.

“Oh, I can’t thank you enough for saving my precious baby, Joey!” she said, and Joey beamed with pride knowing that his vocal practice paid off.

Moral: Taking care of yourself first puts you in a better position to take care of others.

Joey was a special nightingale. While all his friends and family members spent time each evening belting out beautiful sounds, he always took it a step further. When everyone retired for the night, Joey continued to sing.

He knew that he had a gift that was his responsibility to take care of. He also knew that in taking care of himself, he would be better able to take care of others.

Taking the time to take care of yourself sometimes seems like a waste of time, especially when you’re feeling okay. It’s easy to think that you’re at your best when there aren’t any physical signs that say otherwise.

But consistent self-care is required for you to be able to handle unexpected situations where someone is counting on your help.

It’s usually in those times that you realize that you’re less prepared than you thought to take care of someone when they call out to you. That is why it’s important to provide yourself with constant renewal.

Ensuring that you are healthy and rested enables you to take care of others. It means taking time to just enjoy life instead of working all the time.

Making yourself ready to take care of others also means working on your craft so you are able to continue earning a salary and achieving success. That preparation allows you to save the day when you least expect it.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Which activities do I take part in to ensure that my mind is relaxed?
2. How important is quality time with my friends?
3. Which of my skills deserve more attention to ensure that they remain sharp?