Learn to Live With the Pricks in Your Life

Click on image to enlarge

Have you ever heard of the fable of the porcupine?  Neither had I, until today.  The friend who passed it along to me said, "The parable is worth sharing.  But have you ever seen a baby porcupine?  I would pass it along just for these."  I agree.

The Parable of the Porcupine

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 and protected themselves; but the quills of each one
wounded their closest companions.  After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen.  So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills 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 that came from the others.  This way they were able to survive. 

Moral of the story: The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

Click on image to enlarge

Next time you find yourself getting frustrated with someone remind yourself of these pictures of this baby porcupine and how adorable he is, just like you and me, in spite of the pricks.

Click on image to enlarge