Steem Cartoon : The Secret to Happiness

Atuk which means grandpa in Malay is one guy who oozes wisdom. He is just like the village owl, not because he sleeps late but because owl has always been regarded as the wisest animal in the forest. So Atuk has the same virtue.

One day, he was sitting under the big tree listening to the birds chirping, basically just chilling out. Would be complete if there is freshly brewed local coffee and some guitar music, like the ones they had in Liberal Latte by #steem-music, but life is like that, there has to be scarcity for there to be gratitude and appreciation.

Little boy was a little puzzled, he looked very confused. Something is in his mind and this time, it is not about Suzy the cute girl in his class. This is quite obvious because he isn't drooling or looking like he is on high from glue sniffing.

The had the same look for a few minutes, before he finally spoke. It was a question that not many can answer. We experienced happiness at some point in our lives but it is never ALWAYS.

Atuk thought for a while. He wondered. He wanted to teach through an example that the boy would remember. He wanted to teach little boy gratitude by using the story the Goose that Lays the Golden Egg, but then this cartoon would involve killing of a goose (his goose sometimes look like a swan) and @sireh isn't very good in drawing goose and killing of an animal isn't very child friendly. So he decided on something cheaper and easier to illustrate. Atuk told the boy to grab a spoon and an egg.

He came back with the spoon and he quietly stole the egg when grandma wasn't looking.

Now, what do I do?

Atuk said, 'Balance the egg on the spoon and walk to the neighbour's house and back'

Little boy did as he was told.

His focus was fiery. He wanted to complete the task successfully, He was so focused that he passed the village's bull that was grazing. Fortunately the bull wasn't paying attention as well. He passed by the cute girl that he was fond of, but he didn't notice it.

He passed by a nightingale that sang beautiful songs, but he didn't hear any. He was too focused.

He came back. Tired from all the focusing. He is exhausted. I have completed the task, so let me know what pearls of wisdom do you impart to me, Atuk?

You achieved success. But you forget to stop and smell the roses.

Have you heard of the song, 'What a beautiful world?' Louis Armstrong didn't say success is the catalyst to happiness. Its the simple things in life.

So, I must not focus so much?

(at this point, the egg fell and it broke)

No, boy. The lesson is this, you must focus because success is essential but there must be a good balance. Now you go and tell your grandma the broken egg has nothing to do with Atuk okay. Say her favourite cat stole it and cracked. Do we have a deal?

Atuk, aren't we supposed to be honest?

Well, you stole the egg didn't you?

At that point, little boy knew what wisdom was. His Atuk caught him...foxy old man.

They didn't have any eggs for dinner. Grandma was furious and all they had was watercrest and rice. But the lesson was worth it.

credit to @zomagic