Short Stories » Change Yourself and not The World
Change Yourself and not The World
Long ago, people lived happily under the rule of a king. The people of the kingdom were very happy as they led a very prosperous life with an abundance of wealth and no misfortunes.
Once, the king decided to go visiting places of historical importance and pilgrim centres at distant places. He decided to travel by foot to interact with his people. People of distant places were very happy to have a conversation with their king. They were proud that their king had a kind heart.
After several weeks of travel, the king returned to the palace. He was quite happy that he had visited many pilgrim centres and witnessed his people leading a prosperous life. However, he had one regret.
He had intolerable pain in his feet as it was his first trip by foot covering a long distance. He complained to his ministers that the roads weren’t comfortable and that they were very stony. He could not tolerate the pain. He said that he was very much worried about the people who had to walk along those roads as it would be painful for them too!
Considering all this, he ordered his servants to cover the roads in the whole country with leather so that the people of his kingdom can walk comfortably.
The king’s ministers were stunned to hear his order as it would mean that thousands of cows would have to be slaughtered in order to get sufficient quantity of leather. And it would cost a huge amount of money also.
Finally, a wise man from the ministry came to the king and said that he had another idea. The king asked what the alternative was. The minister said, “Instead of covering the roads with leather, why don’t you just have a piece of leather cut in appropriate shape to cover your feet?”
The king was very much surprised by his suggestion and applauded the wisdom of the minister. He ordered a pair of leather shoes for himself and requested all his countrymen also to wear shoes.
Moral of the Story - Change Yourself and not The World
This story teaches us that instead of trying to change the world around us to suit our needs, we should focus on changing ourselves to adapt to the world. The king learned that it was easier to change his own way of living, rather than trying to change the whole kingdom.
Change Yourself and not The World - Takeaway for Class 1,2,3
The king was in pain because of the rough roads. Instead of changing all the roads, he decided to wear shoes to protect his feet. This teaches us that sometimes we can find solutions to problems by changing how we approach them, rather than trying to change everything around us.
Change Yourself and not The World - Takeaway for Class 4,5,6
The king learned a valuable lesson. Instead of trying to change the entire world to make it more comfortable for himself, he realized that by changing himself and wearing shoes, he could solve his problem. This teaches us that sometimes the key to solving problems lies in personal change rather than expecting the world to change for us.
Change Yourself and not The World - Takeaway for Class 7,8,9
The story highlights a profound lesson about personal responsibility and adaptation. The king initially sought to change the world around him, but a wise minister helped him realize that by changing himself, he could achieve his goal without causing harm or unnecessary cost. This story encourages self-improvement and understanding that we are often the key to solving our own challenges.
3 Fun Facts About Shoes for Children
- The oldest known shoes date back about 5,500 years, found in a cave in Oregon, USA!
- The average person walks about 100,000 miles in their lifetime — that’s like walking around the Earth four times!
- High heels were originally worn by men to show their status, not women.
Change Yourself and not The World - Quiz for Class 1,2,3
- Why was the king in pain after his trip?
- What did the king want to do to make the roads comfortable?
- How did the minister help the king solve his problem?
Change Yourself and not The World - Quiz for Class 4,5,6
- What was the king’s initial idea to make the roads more comfortable?
- Why was the king’s idea of covering the roads with leather not practical?
- What solution did the wise minister offer, and why was it better than the king’s plan?
Change Yourself and not The World - Quiz for Class 7,8,9
- What does the story teach us about personal responsibility and change?
- Why is it easier to change ourselves than to try to change the world around us?
- How does the wise man’s suggestion reflect a more sustainable solution to the king’s problem?