Learn more, be more! by R S Tomar

Once upon a time, in a dense jungle, there lived a dog and a fox. They were very good friends but like all individuals had differing opinions. Security was a problem in the jungle and the predators were ferocious.
The two friends, however, were survivors. The fox was the cleverer and one day, she came up with a plan. She said “Dog! Let’s take up a job with the lion. That way we’ll always be safe!” The dog liked the idea and they both requested for an interview with the king.
The lion needed a water bearer and a cook. He asked what they would like to do. The dog chose to be the water bearer and the fox became the cook. A month went by blissfully. The two friends felt safe and they thrived. They did their jobs well. The dog ran back and forth between the lion’s den and the well. The Fox scurried around the kitchen.
The fox however, did other work as well. She cooked various cuisines, waited on the king; everything appeared before the king could ask for. The king noticed her and was pleased with her efforts. Soon the king started talking to the fox. The sharp fox realized that this was an opportunity. She started taking interest in the king’s lectures. The king spoke about his kingdom, its problems and people. The fox was soon aware of the state affairs. She started visiting the king’s library to read and learn about how the state was run. Whenever she could, she spoke to the king’s ministers and learnt from them. In a short duration, the fox was able to understand the king’s long lunch discourses. She also started adding to his thoughts and then one day she gave him a solution to a long standing state problem. The king was very pleased. He began to trust her and the fox found herself promoted to being his personal advisor!
The dog, on the other hand, kept lugging water. The fox often suggested that he could learn to do some gardening and build the king’s garden or if he liked, he could learn to discern the various plants and everyday on his way, he could scout for medicinal plants for the king’s hospital. But the dog thought it was strange to want to learn to do more when they were doing well. The fox even suggested that he explored ways to do his current job more efficiently but she could not convince him. The dog’s life, thus, remained a slog forever!
Moral: Learning always opens new doors. However, being ‘more’ is an individual responsibility. Training can help the process not initiate it!