DON'T LET OTHERS INFLUENCE YOU

There was once a poor woodcutter who lived all alone in a forest. He was hardworking and happy and went about his daily duties with a smile on his face.  One morning, the woodcutter was whistling as he chopped some logs.  He then set off for the market where there was a great demand for firewood.

It had been a bitterly cold winter and the wind was whistling through the trees piercing the woodcutter’s old and frayed clothes and chilling him to the marrow.  Nevertheless, being a cheery soul, he thought nothing of it and on reaching the market took his place.  It was then that Silas, an old friend of the woodcutter’s sped him and calling out a greeting, sat down for a gossip.  He had kind words to say about everyone and was well liked within the community.  But since Silas seemed to be doing all the talking, he just listened and nodded from time to time.

 
Then Silas came up with a suggestion.  Why didn’t the woodcutter charge more for his  wares?  If he did, said Silas, “you could live a better life, be able to buy some new clothes and enjoy yourself”.Now the woodcutter knew that he charged the market rate for his wood.He wasn’t going to defraud the people by charging more.  He told Silas as much and when he had sold his wares, he headed  homewards.

But Silas’ words kept haunting the woodcutter.  He tossed and turned all night long.  He thought about a new change of clothes, more food on his table and such things every waking moment of his day.  The nights seemed to stretch out like never before because all the woodcutter did was think about the next market day and what he would now charge for his wood.  He thought about how he could sell this to his customers.  Maybe he could say that there were not enough trees to cut down.

Days passed by and the woodcutter was still in quandary.  One stray thought and a suggestion made by a so called friend, bothered him so much.  Yet deep down his conscience troubled him and the woodcutter normally listened to this voice of  reason.

 It told him he was being a fool and that he should not entertain such thoughts.  His had work would pay off in the long run.  He was a happy man before and there was no reason why he shouldn’t be happy again.  And so the woodcutter pushed the thoughts that kept coming to him, out of his mind and sure enough, he was whistling again!!!!

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Always listen to your conscience which is the real  voice.