“You guys, stop! What’s happened?”the squirrel shouted.
Badger, fox and bear stopped fighting.
Then the badger said, “Here is the thing. I and bear were building stone tower, fox suddenly came here and destoried it. I’m shocked and screamed AH~~~~~ Then the fox gave me a hard bite. It’s really painful. So bear came to hit fox.”
“NO!” fox said aggrieved, “It’s not like that! Here is the thing. badger and bear were building tower,I’m good at it. So I want help them,seems something wrong with the tower,when I came no one know why the tower collapsed. Then badger shouted beside my ear, it almost make me deaf! I cannot bear it so I bit him lightly just want to stop him. Then the bear hit me, they two bullied me!”
“NO!NO!” Bear said, “It’s not like that! Here is the thing. I and badger were building the tower. Fox came here without any words, I thought he wanted to play with us. But beyond my expectation, the fox used his tail sweep down the building. badger was angry and he shouted. Without any apologies, the fox even bit badger. This is too much, I cannot bear it. So I caught fox’s tail.”
“NO!NO!NO!”The squirrel said, “ I was on the tree, and I see the everything.It’s not that! Buddies, calm down and listen to me please. badger and bear were building the tower, fox wanted to help, but fox’s tail accidentally knocked down the tower. Then badger shouted, fox bit badger , bear hit fox. That’s all.”
NO!NO!NO! Squirrel, I can confirm Fox destroyed the tower! It’s not an accident.
Squirrel, you are wrong!!I didn’t sweep down the tower.I am trying to help them! You liar!! You bad apple!
badger , fox and bear started to arguing again, It sounded as if were about come to a fighting.
Squirrel shouted: Stop! Stop! Everybody! Let’s go to build a dam, OK?
But no one hear the squirrel, they are immersed to argue with others.
Well, squirrel said, What a mess! Seems I cannot stop them. What can I do?
OK. I’m going to build a dam to block the steam. You guys continue.
So the squirrel go to playing with the stones, he tries to build a dam.
But how about the badger , fox and bear?
After a while, badger , fox and bear are tired. They found squirrel was building a dam. Seems very interesting.
May I play with you?It seems interesting. I want join .They asked.
Squirrel said, Of course, welcome. But at first you should stop fighting.
Three buddies shamed.
badger said: No! We will not fighting again. Tower is broken, but we can build another things.
Fox said: Maybe my tail is too big, I should take care of it. I’m sorry, badger , bear.
Bear said, Maybe the tower is not strong. You are not by design to do that. Quarrel is not interesting. Let’s play together!
So these four friends started build dam together, they have a good time.
Dear fellow toastmasters, this story from a picture book for children. Today most of you are adults, but do you learn something from this children’s book? For me, the answer is Yes. The story told me, different person stands on different point, no one can be absolutely objective. So we should try to learn thinking on other’s side. Reduce the useless arguing.
Maybe you’ve seen this picture. The number is six or nine? Who is right? Most of the things in our common life also no one is absolutely right or wrong. So when we have some disagreements, what is the most important thing?
One day, I and my husband were going to the market to buy some vegetable. But after the door locked, we suddenly found, no one took the keys. I looked at him and he looked at me. Then,
Why don't you take key?
It's your fault, I never take keys when go with you!
I took so many times, why can't you help me one time! Just one time!
Ah， so every time when I washed cloth, why didn't you say: Let me wash!
.....
After ten minutes, we tired. At last, we decided to buy vegetables at first, on the way home find a locksmith. Problem solved.
Waste ten minutes to arguing and make we both very angry and tired. It is not worth.
If we can change the standpoint, if time can go back, we will not do that.
So when we have disagreement,first, calm down. Don’t do any judgement and decision when you’re angry. Most of them are irrational.
Second, to resolve problem. Resolve problem we should think why we should do it.For badger, fox and bear,why they build a tower, because they want to play for fun.they wanted do something interesting just for joy.Apparently, playing is more interesting than fighting.
And at last, if we can Introspection and learn something from the event, it’s better. Who is right, who is wrong, is not important.
I’m so happy at last they found the right way to deal with the unpleasantness.
Dear fellow toastmasters,I wish you also learn from this story. Next time, if there are some agreement, calm down first, don’t shouted unthinkingly: It’s not like that!