A Tale of A Tale of NailsNails

Once upon a time there was a boy with a Once upon a time there was a boy with a very difficult character. His father gvery difficult character. His father gaave him ve him a bag full of nails and ta bag full of nails and toldold him to drive one him to drive one

nail into the garden fence every time he losnail into the garden fence every time he lostt his patience or hahis patience or hadd an argument with an argument with

someone.someone.

The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the garden fencegarden fence..

In the following weeks, the boy learnIn the following weeks, the boy learneded to to control himself and the number of nails driven control himself and the number of nails driven

into the fence ginto the fence gotot lower every day lower every day..

The boy discoverThe boy discovereded that it is easier to learn to that it is easier to learn to control himself than to hammer nails into the control himself than to hammer nails into the

fence.fence.

At last, the day At last, the day ccameame when the when the

boy dboy didid not not drive any nails drive any nails into the garden into the garden

fence. fence.

Then he Then he wentwent to to his father and his father and

ttoldold him that on him that on that day he did that day he did

not need to not need to hammer any hammer any nails into the nails into the

ffence.ence.

His father then tHis father then toldold the boy to take out one the boy to take out one nail from the fence for every daynail from the fence for every day he succeedhe succeededed

in controlling his temper and not loosing his in controlling his temper and not loosing his patience. patience.

Many days passed and finally the boy tMany days passed and finally the boy toldold his his father that he tfather that he takenaken out all the nails from the out all the nails from the

fence.fence.

The father took his son to the front of the fence The father took his son to the front of the fence and told him - ‘My son, you have behaved well, and told him - ‘My son, you have behaved well, but look how many holes you have left in the but look how many holes you have left in the

fence’.fence’.

It will never be the sameIt will never be the same, and so it is w, and so it is when you hen you have an argument with someone, you leavehave an argument with someone, you leave

themthem with with wounds like thewounds like the holes in this fence holes in this fence..

If you stab a person with a knife and then If you stab a person with a knife and then take it out, you will always leave a wound. take it out, you will always leave a wound.

It does not matter how many times you It does not matter how many times you say are sorry, the wound will stay. A say are sorry, the wound will stay. A

wound caused by words hurts just as much wound caused by words hurts just as much as a physical wound.as a physical wound.

Friends are rare jewels, they make you Friends are rare jewels, they make you smile and support you. They are ready to smile and support you. They are ready to listen to you whenever you need it, they listen to you whenever you need it, they are there to support you and open their are there to support you and open their

heart to you. So always show your friends heart to you. So always show your friends how much you love and respect them.how much you love and respect them.    

‘‘A good thing about friendship is to A good thing about friendship is to know with whom to confide a secretknow with whom to confide a secret’’

Alessandro ManzoniAlessandro Manzoni

Please read the following thoughts, they may be useful in your lifePlease read the following thoughts, they may be useful in your life

Give people more than they expect!Give people more than they expect!

When you say ‘I love you’, always mean When you say ‘I love you’, always mean it!it!

When you say ‘I am sorry’, look into their When you say ‘I am sorry’, look into their eyes!eyes!

Don’t make fun of other people’s dreamsDon’t make fun of other people’s dreams, , love deeply and with passion. You may get love deeply and with passion. You may get hurt, but it is the only way to live your life hurt, but it is the only way to live your life

to the full!to the full!

Do not offend and judge other Do not offend and judge other people people

according to how their relatives according to how their relatives behave!behave!

Speak slowlySpeak slowly, but think , but think quickly!quickly!

If someone asks you a question that you do not If someone asks you a question that you do not want to answer, want to answer, smile and ask them ‘why do smile and ask them ‘why do

they want to know?'they want to know?'

Remember that the greatest love and Remember that the greatest love and the greatest success the greatest success involve the greater involve the greater

risks!risks!

When you loose, do not miss the When you loose, do not miss the lesson!lesson!

Smile when you answer Smile when you answer the phone, who calls you the phone, who calls you will be able to hear it in will be able to hear it in

your voice!your voice!

Always remember the three Always remember the three ‘Rs’ ‘Rs’ in lifein life

- Respect yourself - Respect yourself - Respect others Respect others

- Responsibility for all your actionsResponsibility for all your actions

Do not let a small misunderstanding ruin a Do not let a small misunderstanding ruin a great friendship; when you realise you have great friendship; when you realise you have

made a mistake, correct it immediately!made a mistake, correct it immediately!

... and always remember ... and always remember that sometimes not getting that sometimes not getting what you want may be quite what you want may be quite

fortunate!fortunate!