The little stool was nervously awaiting performing it's first unstated duty as a stool. He knew that the moment someone sat on him he would feel fulfillment, a sense of completeness. No one had ever sat on him before, and his thoughts raced uncontrollably every time someone would walk near. "Is this the first one?", " Will I be up to the task?", "What if my legs give out?", the list of thoughts raced around like little boys on the go cart track for the first time. He was oblivious to anything else. He wanted so much to matter, to be of use, to accomplish what mattered most in life. He waited anxiously to feel the joy he knew would come when someone finally sat upon his eager little self.
Alas, these thoughts seemed like wasted energy, as no one had yet to christen his calling in life, providing a much needed service to those souls looking for a little time of relaxation. The little stool was so desperate to experience his very first job, and yet he was terrified at the same time. Day after day, he would fret and fret endlessly. Never knowing what it felt like to have his wish to be of use finally fulfilled.
Everyday the little stool would look to the stool to his right, she seemed to not have a care in the world. Never giving credence to the fact that no one had desired her talents at supporting their body weight as they chose to rest, as no one ever had. Then there was the stool to his left. He was always able to fulfill his purpose, everyone seemed to gravitate towards him. Smiling obliviously to everything around him, he seemed so satisfied, so sure of himself.
The little stool did not understand this at all. "Why didn't anyone want him?", " Why did everyone always choose the other stool?" Both of them had come packed in the same box, they were put together by the same person, they were even the same color! Why didn't anyone want him to fulfill his purpose, by providing a wonderful place for them to sit and rest?
The little stool conjured up all kinds of stories about being 'The Chosen Stool', 'The Popular One That Everyone Wanted'; these made up stories swirled constantly in his mind. His imagination was definitely fruitful, images running rampant through his head with dreams of his life purpose being fulfilled. They always to come to a screeching halt with the stark realization that as of yet no one had chosen to sit on him. This made the little stool so very sad. He didn't understand why he was always passed over, never being the preferred stool. Soon, the little stool began to feel great resentment towards the stool to his left. The little stool could feel anger rising up within him, bitterness, anger, and of course jealously.
The little stool did not like feeling this way. The stool to his right never seemed to care, in fact she was always happy! The little stool could almost feel the heavy cloud of darkness that always seemed to surround him. Day after day, these negative feelings kept growing larger and larger, and he kept right on feeding them. His only wish in life never being fulfilled.
Until one day, feeling the overwhelming weight of his negativity, the little stool fell over. Lying on his side, he knew that the stool to his right would possibly be the only one willing to help him. The little stool begin to cry, wondering if the stool to his right would hear, and positive that the stool to his left would not even notice that he had fallen over. He didn't want to ask for help, because he was sure he would never get it. He didn't want to admit defeat and certainly didn't want to bother anyone. He fretted and stewed as the anger, resentment, and negative energies kept building and building. Finally, the little stool could not even face himself. He cried out in repentance feeling so unworthy, certain that his behavior warranted his never being rescued. He came to the realization that he needed to change his negative and destructive thoughts. Wallowing in despair, it seemed he would lie there forever, lying on his side, forever spewing out what felt like poison.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he burst out in laughter, releasing all those pent up feelings. He laughed and laughed until he thought he might start crying. The thought of what he might look like, lying there on his side swimming in self pity, while laughing hysterically, made him laugh even more. He realized that his laughter came from deep inside his soul, where he had finally realized that all those useless negative and destructive feelings were not accomplishing what he wanted most in his life, to be of use.
Just as suddenly as he realized this, he immediately felt strong hands reaching for him, firmly grabbing his legs, picking him up and then, being flooded with an overwhelming joy as he realized that the body whose hands had reached down to upright him, was soon sitting on him.
It quickly dawned on the little stool; anger, bitterness, resentment never enabled him to accomplish his life's purpose. Feeding day after day upon negative and destructive thoughts and feelings, had kept him locked in a prison of sorts. He understood then that when he changed his thoughts and was able to express laughter, that made him feel good, that's when everything changed. Those strong arms set him upright, and then their owner sat down on the little stool! He was ecstatic, and vowed from that day on, to always keep his heart full of laughter, never allowing any space to be given over to negative or destructive feelings.
From that day forward, whether anyone sat on the little stool or not, he always greeted each day with a smile and laughed as much as possible. His life purpose was finally realized, and he understood that it wasn't what he thought it was at all, He understood that what was important, was that he be able to find joy no matter what the circumstance.
Oh that we would all learn this lesson from the little stool. Negative or destructive feelings and energies will not manifest what you want. Laughing and being positive will always welcome the desired outcome, when you assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled.
