Mr Tan’s Howling Dog
This is not a story about dogs. This is a story about pain and how pain is not necessary a bad thing. But more importantly, this is a story to people who try to help other people, but end up feeling more frustrated than they begin with.
Mr Tan has a neighbour called Mr Lim who is constantly irked by Mr Tan’s dog.
Why the hell does it howl all the time? Why doesn’t Mr Tan do something about it?
Angry, Mr Lim went over to Mr Tan’s and ask what the fuck is wrong with the dog and can you please, do something about the howls?
Mr Tan calmly replied, “My dog is making so much noise because it is in pain.”
Why is it in pain, asked Mr Lim.
“Because it is sitting on a nail.”
What?!!!! Then, why doesn’t the dog get up?
“Because it is not painful enough”.
Furious at the blase attitude of Mr Tan, Mr Lim asked “Why don’t you remove the nail for the dog?”
Because the dog can actually stand up and walk away. He can still bear the pain. Obviously, the nail is not hurting the dog enough.
Sometimes, we complain and ask for help but fail to realize that the power to help ourselves, is within our control. What is worse, is that the people whom with the best intentions, try to help us without realizing that we are not ready to accept help.
Pain is good. But more pain provokes us into action.
Case in point: My grape sized lump. If it didn’t stick out of my CB, I wouldn’t have it checked. If I didn’t survive a horrible accident, the deflated grape would still be in me…. until it gets infected and bursts.
2nd case in point: Grumbling about muddydonkey for the past few months, until now, his attitude is affecting my performance at work. mild pain until fucking pain the past few weeks.
