The Stonecutter

Once upon a time, in the mountains of China, there lived a Stonecutter named Yoshi. Every day, he went to the mountain with his hammer and chisel. Clink, clank, clink. He cut blocks of stone for building houses. It was hard work. His hands were rough, his back hurt, and he was very poor. One hot afternoon, he sat down to wipe his brow. “I am so tired,” he sighed. “I wish I were rich. Then I wouldn’t have to work so hard. I could sleep on a soft bed.” Now, a Mountain Spirit lived in the rock, and it heard Yoshi’s wish. “Your wish is granted!” boomed a deep voice. Suddenly, Yoshi’s clothes turned into fine silk. He found himself in a beautiful house filled with gold. He was a Rich Merchant! He was overjoyed. He ate fine food and didn’t work at all.

One day, the Emperor passed by in a golden carriage. Everyone bowed low. Yoshi bowed too. He felt jealous. “I am rich,” he thought, “but the Emperor is powerful. I wish I were the Emperor!” “Your wish is granted!” said the Spirit. Yoshi became the Emperor. He wore a golden crown. He rode in a carriage. People bowed to him. He felt mighty. But the sun beat down on his head. It was hot. He sweated under his heavy robes. The sun didn’t bow to him. “The Sun is stronger than me,” he cried basically. “I wish I were the Sun!” “Your wish is granted!” Yoshi became the Sun. He shone brightly in the sky. He burned the fields. He made the Emperor sweat. He felt the strongest of all.

But then, a dark Cloud floated by. It covered the Sun’s face. Yoshi couldn’t shine through it. “The Cloud is stronger than me!” he shouted. “I wish I were a Cloud!” “Your wish is granted!” Yoshi became a heavy, dark Storm Cloud. He rained and rained. He flooded the rivers. He washed away crops. He felt powerful. But he couldn’t move the great Mountain. The water just ran off the rocks. The Mountain stood firm. “The Mountain is stronger than me!” he roared. “I wish I were the Mountain!” “Your wish is granted!” Yoshi became the Mountain. He was tall, solid, and immovable. The wind couldn’t move him. The sun couldn’t burn him. “I am finally the strongest thing in the world,” he thought.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his foot. Clink, clank, clink. He looked down. There, at the bottom of the mountain, was a tiny human with a hammer and chisel. The human was cutting a piece of stone out of him. Yoshi trembled. “That little man is breaking me! He is stronger than the Mountain! I wish to be… I wish to be…” He realized the truth. “I wish to be a stonecutter again!” “Your wish is granted,” whispered the Spirit for the last time.

Yoshi was back in his old clothes, holding his hammer. He was poor again, but he was happy. He realized that everyone has their own power, and he was perfect just the way he was. He sang a happy song as he worked, never wishing to be anyone else again.

Moral of the Story: Be content with who you are. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.