The Monkey with The Wooden Apples

Once upon a time there was a very happy monkey in the jungle who wandered around eating delicious fruits when hungry and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelt nothing. He tried to eat them, but they hurt his teeth. Though they were made of wood, he clutched onto them even tighter when the other monkeys gazed at them envyingly. He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered about the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so obsessed with them, that he forgot to notice his hunger initially.

The sight of a fruit tree reminded him of the pain in his stomach, but he couldn't bear to set down the apples in order to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either as he was constantly defending his apples. A proud, but distinctly less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.

The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruits with his hands full. What if he just let go?

Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling its fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.

Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as " productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life.

Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.