Chikki Stopped Worrying

Story

In a quiet forest, there lived a little bird named Chikki. She was small, with soft brown feathers, and she loved to hop from tree to tree. But Chikki had a problem—she worried all the time.

Chikki kept thinking about the past and worrying about the future. She would always think, “I had a beautiful nest last year, but the storm destroyed it. My new nest is so small.”

She would worry about her future.   

Her mind was always busy with questions like, “Did I make the right choice yesterday?” or “What if something bad happens tomorrow?” “What will happen if the storm destroys my house again?” “Will I be able to fly high up in the sky?” 

Her friends often tried to cheer her up, but all the efforts would be in vain. 

“Chikki,” asked Mr. Hoot, the wise old owl, “why are you always worrying? The truth is always the truth, no matter what we do.”

But Chikki didn’t understand, and she let it pass. As days went by, Chikki started worrying more, and she was not keeping well because of stress.

One day, Chikki met an old turtle named Dhruva by the river. Dhruva was very wise and kind. He noticed that Chikki looked upset. “Why do you look so sad, little bird?” he asked.

“I’m always worried, Dhruva,” Chikki said. “I think about what I did wrong yesterday and what might go wrong tomorrow. I keep worrying about the future, the future of my little ones, the future of me and my family. I don’t know how to stop.”

Dhruva smiled. “Come sit with me by the river,” he said. “I want to show you something.”

Chikki perched on a rock next to him. 

“Look at the river,” Dhruva said. “See how the water flows? It doesn’t stop to think about the rocks it passed or worry about what lies ahead. It just keeps flowing because that is its truth.”

Chikki watched the water. “But what if it flows into a scary place?” she asked.

“If the river has to pass through the cave, it will; if the river has to pass through the dirt of the cities, it will. The river’s truth is to flow,” said Dhruva. “No matter where it goes, it keeps flowing because it cannot change what it is. Life is like that, too. The truth cannot change. Worrying won’t change what is true. The truth will remain as it is.”

Chikki thought about this. “So, you mean I should stop worrying because the truth will stay the same no matter what?”

“Exactly,” said Dhruva. “If you accept the truth, you will feel much happier.”

Chikki decided to give it a try. Whenever she started to worry, she thought about the river. Slowly, she started to feel better. She sang happily, played with her friends, and noticed the beauty around her.

One evening, as the sun set and the sky turned orange and pink, Chikki sat in her nest and smiled. “The truth will always be the truth,” she thought. “Worrying won’t change it. But I can enjoy the moment and be happy.”

From then on, Chikki enjoyed her days and taught her friends to do the same. She realised that the truth does not change, and accepting it brings peace and happiness.