THE LIFE STORY YOU HAVE

A little guy was sitting quietly one day, thinking. He had been battling feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt. He constantly felt ignored and underappreciated by others around him, regardless of how hard he tried. He was so frustrated that he went to his father, the only person he knew would know the answer.

"What is the worth of my life, Father?" the youngster inquired.

A wise man with years of experience, his father gave him a soft grin. He extracted a tiny, inconspicuous stone from his pocket. He gave it to his son and said, "If you want to know how valuable your life is,

"Son, take this stone and go to the marketplace if you want to understand the value of your life," he advised. Keep your mouth shut and simply raise two fingers if someone asks you for the price.

The boy was perplexed. A rock? What was the worth of his life in relation to a mere rock? However, he took the stone and headed to the bustling market because he trusted his father.

### **A $2 Offer From The Market**

There were lots of people in the marketplace. Buyers bargained over pricing, fabric merchants showcased their vibrant textiles, while vendors screamed about their fresh products. Uncertain of what would happen, the child gripped the stone as he made his way through the mob.

Then he was observed by an old woman in plain clothing. Squinting at the stone in his hands, she took a step forward.

"How much for this stone, young man?" she said.

The child recalled what his father had told him. He just held up two fingers without saying anything.

The female gave a nod. "Two bucks? I'll accept it.

The boy's gaze expanded. Was there anyone prepared to spend cash on this common rock? Naturally, he didn't sell it. Instead, eager to tell his father, he turned and rushed home.

"Papa! I was given two dollars for the stone by a woman in the market!

Not at much surprised, his father nodded. "All right. Take the stone to the museum now, please. If someone asks for the price, just hold up two fingers and say nothing, just like you used to do.

### **A $200 Offer From The Museum**

The boy entered a large museum the following day, which was brimming with sculptures, paintings, and historical objects. Despite feeling insignificant in the presence of such priceless items, he held on to the stone and waited.

Before long, a middle-aged man in a suit came up to him. He adjusted his spectacles and looked at the stone carefully.

"Where did you find this, young man? "It appears uncommon," the man remarked. "What is the price?"

The boy held up two fingers once more.

The man grinned. "Two hundred bucks?" What a deal! I'll purchase it.

In amazement, the child almost dropped the stone. Two hundred dollars? Only two dollars were offered to him yesterday. What makes this stone so much more valuable?

He ran back to his father, puzzled and excited. "Papa! I was offered two hundred dollars for the stone by a man at the museum!

His dad laughed. "Isn't that interesting? I'll give you one more spot to take the stone now. Do the same thing when you visit the store that sells precious gems.

### **A $200,000 revelation from The Precious Gem Store**

The lad rushed to the town's most opulent jewelry store. Priceless antiquities, exquisite diamonds, and gleaming gemstones were everywhere in the store. Despite feeling uncomfortable in such an upscale environment, he bravely entered.

He was wandering about when the elderly store owner behind the counter saw the stone he was holding. His eyes widened in shock as soon as he saw it. He let out a gasp and jumped up.

"Oh my god!" exclaimed the man. "Where did this come from? I have spent my entire life looking for this stone!

As his father had told him, the child remained silent. Rather, he raised two fingers.

The man's expression darkened. "Two hundred thousand? I'll accept it! This unique jewel is much more precious than I could have ever dreamed.

The boy's chest thumped with his beating heart. Two hundred thousand dollars? When he realized what had happened, his brain whirled.

Breathless, he ran home, clutching the stone. "Papa! For two hundred thousand dollars, the elderly man at the gem shop wanted to purchase the stone! I don't get it. Why was the pricing constantly fluctuating?

With a knowing smile, his father touched his son's shoulder.

### **The Lesson – Realizing Your Value**

“You now realize the worth of your life, my son,” he added. In a museum, the same stone that was only worth two dollars at the market was worth two hundred dollars, and in the proper hands, it was worth an incredible two hundred thousand dollars.

“This is precisely how life operates,” he added. You will be viewed as having very little value by some. People will see your worth. However, in the wrong setting, you could feel ignored, undervalued, and even unworthy. That simply indicates that you are in the wrong location and does not imply that you are worthless.

The child paid close attention to what his father had to say.

You will feel like a $2 stone if you are surrounded by people who don't value you. However, you will shine like a rare gemstone if you are surrounded by people who genuinely recognize your worth. The message here is straightforward: don't remain in a location where people don't value you. Instead, look for people that appreciate your true worth.

Slowly, the child nodded as the knowledge hit him.

From that moment on, he realized that his value was determined by people who appreciated and valued him rather than by those who did not.

### **The Story's Moral**

Remind yourself of this story if you ever feel undervalued. You might be in the wrong position, but that doesn't mean you aren't valuable. Seek out others who value you, and never accept anything less.