Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

‘Read your books. Readers are leaders’ – My parents and principals at school will always say or whisper closely in my ear.

Most times, they’d drop a stern warning or an earful on the effects of not reading. They’d say to me ‘When you read, you’d have superpowers; one that would make you powerful and strong enough to change the world’.

‘The world will be at your feet. It wouldn’t be far from becoming your stage to own’ – only if you read.

With no hesitation, i’d sit at a silent place, so peaceful and, skim, reading my books thoroughly. It was always fun with getting to know new words – updating your vocabularies was the aim.

And, aside that, to boost your knowledge. I’d usually joke with my classmates at elementary school if they ever knew or have heard the new vocabulary I had just read from a book.

If they don’t know, we’d jokingly say ‘Oh! You see i’m getting better and, growing to have even more superpowers’ – my classmates will shrug but then, see it from the angle of improving than getting angry.

One piece of book I so loved when I was younger was ‘Tortoise and the Hare’. It was a little fable that had loads of lessons to pick from.

It’s believed that the Tortoise is usually a slow animal and especially, the Hare was much faster than it. The same way, this played out in the story.

But, inversely. The Tortoise and the Hare took on a race where not only speed but, intelligence and wise was much needed.

One distinct trait from both was that, the Tortoise was wiser while, the Hare was faster and due to that, everyone believed that, the Hare would win easily by a mile.

Little did anyone know that the results will be opposite – as the Hare and Tortoise set to race, the Hare took on short cuts cause’ he was desperate to win by all odds.

The Tortoise went out on his slow pace – slowly and slowly; everyone was laughing cause’, there were little chances of the Tortoise meeting the Hare.

Hours and Hours into the finish line, the Hare became worn out, breathing heavily while the Tortoise was still heading strong despite getting no hope from anyone.

Onto the finish line, the Hare got disturbed by hurdles on his way; the Tortoise was still moving well and, into the finish line, the Tortoise came first.

To everyone wild bewilderment, they were awed and, instantly went ahead to lift the Tortoise up, cheering with great joy that, he had won the race.

I quickly closed my book and told my mom that the Tortoise won and I asked why didn’t the Hare win the race?

She said ‘Shortcuts to success or anything in life is an unwise decision to take. Do not be sad or unhappy by your slow progress’.

‘Be happy you took that little step or mark and while, marching onward, have faith, be optimistic that, you’d reach the finish line and be celebrated with utmost joy from those around you’.

I smiled. Knowing fully well I had learnt something and would, definitely joke with my classmates about it.

‘Slow and Steady wins the race’

Ace_xx