When My Story Did Not Get A Prize………………Uma

I was always interested in participating in story writing contests as a child. Once I did write a story and posted it to the editor of a comic book. But never got any reply for it. The story was not interesting enough to win a prize. I was feeling blue the whole day when another story got published.

My mother told me to go out and play with my friends so that I would get some diversion. When I went out, I met our neighbour, who was a fantastic gardener and had grown lots and lots of flowering and ornamental plants in his lawn. When he saw my face he asked me the reason for being sad. I told him. He asked me to come over. He was trimming the fencing plants. I felt a lot better after seeing the beauty of the garden. I wanted to help him and he let me plant some unusual plant that he had bought.

After a while he asked me if I was feeling disappointed and I nodded my head in acknowledgement. I even told him that I was not going to participate in anymore story writing competitions. The old man smiled and I knew he understood my feelings. I helped him to pull out the weeds as well. By now I was thoroughly enjoying gardening. It was so much fun.

He said when we enjoy something it means we have a zest for it. When we sow seeds we do not expect them to grow into plants the very next day. But we think of a garden in our heart and continue on our journey and thoroughly enjoy it.

Sometimes, even after the best efforts we put in, we do have moment of disappointment. But we need not feel sorry and give up just like gardening which we never find miserable, boring and dreary. If we did we would surely miss a beautiful garden.

Then he said something which I have not forgotten till date. He said ,” We cannot take our talents for granted, just as we cannot take a garden for granted. Like a garden we need to cultivate our talents, nourish it and cherish it and then we will see the fruits of our labour one day. And remember both of them require continuous weeding.”

I had got the message but did not try my hand at story writing. Instead I started pursuing my hobby, drawing and painting for which I won some certificates and prizes.

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