El Bambú Japonés

🎍 The Fern and the Bamboo is a fable that speaks about the importance of hope and patience.

🙂 This fable tells the story of a man going through a rough patch who decided to give up, quitting his job, his relationship, and his life.

The man went to the forest to speak with an old man said to be very wise. After walking for half an hour, he came across the kind old man, who greeted him warmly. The old man lived in a humble house and invited him in for tea. Noticing the worry on the man’s face, the old man asked what was troubling him.

The man shared his struggles while the old man listened attentively and calmly.

After finishing their tea, the old man invited him to a splendid garden at the back of the house.

There, the fern and the bamboo grew alongside dozens of trees. The old man asked him to observe both plants and told him he had a story to share.

This is what the old man said:

“Eight years ago, I took some seeds and planted the fern and the bamboo at the same time. I wanted both plants to grow in my garden because I found them very comforting.

I put all my effort into caring for them as if they were treasures. Soon after, I noticed that the fern and the bamboo responded differently to my care.

The fern began to sprout, and within just a few months, it became a majestic plant that adorned everything with its presence. The bamboo, on the other hand, remained underground, showing no signs of life.”

A whole year passed, and the fern kept growing, but the bamboo did not.

However, I didn’t give up; I continued to care for it even more diligently. Still, another year went by, and my efforts bore no fruit. The bamboo refused to show itself.”

The old man continued: “I didn’t give up after the second year, nor the third, nor the fourth. When five years had passed, I finally saw a timid shoot emerge from the ground. The next day, it was much taller. Within a few months, it grew nonstop and became a magnificent bamboo over 10 meters tall. Do you know why it took so long to come to light?”

The man thought for a moment but couldn’t find an answer.

The old man spoke again: “It took five years because, during all that time, the plant was working on growing its roots. It knew it had to grow very tall, so it couldn’t emerge until it had a firm foundation to support its growth. Do you understand?”

The man understood the message. He realized that sometimes things take time because they are laying down roots.

What matters is to persist and not lose faith. Before saying goodbye, the old man gave the man a message to keep forever, which said:

“Happiness keeps you sweet. Attempts keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human. Falls keep you humble. Success keeps you glowing.”
— Anonymous

Are you capable of overcoming adversity? Can you rise above periods of emotional pain? In life, we all experience misfortune or suffering at some point, and this is as true as it is sadly inevitable.

However, depending on how we face these difficulties, we can build a wiser future, learn from our past, and grow.

When life gets tough, what do you want to be? A fern or a bamboo?

🙏 Through an inspiring fable, we can learn about the power of human resilience and how not to succumb to adversity. Human resilience can be defined as the ability we have as human beings to face adversities, accept them with flexibility, and, most importantly, emerge stronger from them. And do you know what’s even more important? This resilience can be learned.

It is not an intrinsic characteristic exclusive to certain people; rather, each and every one of us can nurture and develop it. All human beings experience pain and suffering; the key is to turn these experiences into virtues. In doing so, we will develop our resilience.

💪 Stay strong and keep the faith 🙏

Author: Psychologist Verónica Saenz