Mastering happiness

Once upon a time, in a quiet village tucked between green hills and golden fields, lived a wise old monk named Master Seto. Known far and wide for his deep wisdom and playful sense of humor, people would often seek him out for guidance.

One morning, a young and eager student named Sam approached him with a determined look in his eyes.

“Master,” Sam said, “I want to learn the secret to happiness and success. Please teach me.”

Master Seto looked at him with a twinkle in his eye and nodded.

“Very well, young one. But first, you must complete a simple task.”

He paused dramatically and added,

“Go to the market. Buy the biggest, juiciest watermelon you can find. Then carry it on your head, and walk through the entire village without dropping it.”

Sam blinked. “That’s it?”

“That’s it,” said the monk, turning away with a mischievous grin.

Puzzled but determined, Sam went to the market. After some searching, he found a truly massive watermelon—round, ripe, and ridiculously heavy. Balancing it carefully on his head, he began the strange journey through the village.

As he walked, heads turned. Children laughed and clapped, some villagers cheered him on, others made funny faces. Sam felt ridiculous—but he also found himself smiling. With each step, his focus sharpened, his laughter grew louder, and his pride in completing the odd challenge grew stronger.

Finally, tired and sweaty, Sam returned to the monastery—watermelon still intact.

“Master,” he said, “I did what you asked. But I don’t understand. What does this have to do with happiness and success?”

Master Seto chuckled.

“Tell me, while you were walking, were you thinking about your past failures, your future fears, or your anxieties?”

“No,” said Sam. “I was too busy trying not to drop the watermelon!”

“Exactly,” said the monk. “You were completely in the moment. And what happened around you?”

“People laughed… and so did I.”

“There it is,” Master Seto smiled. “Happiness is not found in chasing distant dreams or dwelling on worries. It’s found in the absurd, the present, the now. And success?”

He leaned closer.

“Success is learning to walk through life, balanced and focused, no matter how ridiculous the task may seem.”

Sam stood silently, the truth sinking in.

From that day forward, he still sought knowledge—but he also remembered to laugh, to live in the moment, and sometimes… to carry fruit with pride.

🍉 Moral of the Story:

Don’t take life so seriously that you forget to enjoy the walk—even when a watermelon’s wobbling on your head.**