The Fable of Lost Time
Once upon a time, in a modest village lived two friends named Samuel and Benjamin. Each day, they would go to work on their farms, and in the evening, they would sit by the river, sharing stories about their day.
Samuel was a diligent, efficient farmer. For him, every second of the day was an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve. He planned his days meticulously, allocating time for rest, recreation, work, and even solitude. Unsurprisingly, his farm was lush with plentiful crops every harvest season.
Benjamin, on the other hand, had a casual approach to time. While not lazy, he took time for granted, often missing appointments and delaying essential tasks to the last minute. As a result, his farm was less bountiful, and he found himself yearning for more time.
One day, as they sat by the river, a curious-looking old man approached them. He introduced himself as The Keeper of Time and claimed that he had the power to manipulate time. The friends were incredulous but engaged him nonetheless.
The old man proposed a deal. He would give each friend an extra hour every day, and after a year, he would return to see what they made of it. The friends looked at each other, grinned, and agreed to the deal.
Throughout the year, Samuel and Benjamin used their extra hours differently. Samuel, the methodical man, planned effectively and used this extra hour to tend to his crops better, learn new farming techniques, and rest adequately. The extra hour was a boon to him, and his farm output improved significantly.
Benjamin thought otherwise. The sight of having an extra hour each day gave him a false sense of security. He believed he could delay his work further, sleep longer, and waste more time on unproductive tasks. His procrastination worsened, and he often found himself overwhelmed despite having an extra hour.
A year passed, the Keeper of Time returned as promised. On seeing Samuel’s progress and Benjamin’s deterioration, he nodded thoughtfully and asked them how they had spent their extra hours.
Samuel recounted how he used the hour productively, and Benjamin regretted squandering it. The Keeper of Time, then revealed their true test. He explained that time management was not about having more time but utilizing it efficiently.
The Keeper of Time disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared, leaving the friends to ponder over their decisions. From that day onwards, Benjamin changed his approach to time, striving for efficiency and valuing each moment.
In the end, Samuel retained his diligent persona, continually making the most of his time. Benjamin learnt to respect and use his time wisely, and his farm began to thrive once again.
This tale is a reminder to us that time is a priceless asset, and how we choose to spend it determines our growth, productivity, and ultimately, our contentment.