The cactus story

Once upon a time, there was a cactus. He lived in a pot full of soil. It thrived under its owner’s care. But the cactus was angry.

“Why do I have so many spikes? I look so ugly!”

The other plants in pots told him, “They protect you! Unlike us, you are strong! That is an amazing thing!”

Still, the cactus was angry. The other plants were beautiful. They didn’t understand him, he thought.

The cactus saw the other plants being watered daily. He wanted to be watered too! As the owner walked towards him, the cactus anticipated the wetness of the soil, but the soil remained dry. The owner watered the plant next to him instead. The cactus was angry.

“Why do you get to be watered daily and I don’t? This is so unfair!”

The other plants replied soothingly, “You don’t have to be watered daily! You have an amazing talent! You can go long periods without water!”

But the cactus was still angry.

As the plants grew, they changed. Some grew into beautiful flowers with vabriant colours. Some grew into young trees, towering over them all. The cactus was jealous of them all. Why did they get to grow into such wonderful things in I didnt? I only have spikes, while they have flowers and fruits!

One day, the cactus saw a yellow butterfly flying into the owner’s house. That butterfly is so beautiful, I wish I could take a look, thought the cactus.

“Could you fly to me, please?” The cactus asked the butterfly.

The butterfly looked at him, disgusted. “You’re a cactus! If i fly towards you, I’ll get hurt by your spikes! Your spikes are dangerous and disgusting!”

Instead, the butterfly flew towards a flower with bright red petals. The cactus was hurt by the butterfly’s words. After it flew away, the red flower tried to comfort the cactus.

“Your spikes aren’t disgusting and they are not something to be ashamed of! That butterfly was very rude!”

But the cactus didn’t feel any better. Deep down, he thought, the butterfly is right though.

When the apple plant grew into and apple tree and bore fruits, the owner beamed up at the apple tree, picking an apple from its branches.

“My, my, you sure was a good investment! The apples you bore was sweet and juicy!” The owner praised the apple tree. After taking a bite out of an apple.

The owner proceeded to look around at the other plants, commending them on their growth.

“You were a mere sunflower seed when i first planted you! Look at you now, a bright flower with a bright future!” The owner chuckled.

“Your petals are a beautiful shade of purple! Purple is my favourite colour, that’s why I planted you!”

“That shade of red happens to be my favourite shade of lipstick! How marvellous!”

All the plants were beaming, their owner’s praise fueling their happiness. They were proud of their growth and who they had become. The owner then looked at the cactus. The cactus was eager for the owner’s praise. He wondered, what about me is my owner going to praise? My colour? My growth?

The owner’s expression changed from pride to disappointment. The owner’s face fell, pursing his lips as he surveyed the cactus. Tutting disapprovingly, he said, “I received you as a gift. It would’ve been poor manners to throw you away, but you have simply proven yourself to be a waste of space and effort.”

The cactus felt small, smaller than he had ever felt in his entire life. Smaller than when he saw the beautiful plants. Smaller than when they got watered daily. Smaller than when the yellow butterfly insulted him. The cactus felt deflated. He thought he at least, had a purpose.

No amount of comforting could make the cactus feel better.

One day, the owner forgot to water the plants. The plants panicked. They needed their daily amount of water, or else they would die! The cactus remained bored, because he could last a long time without water. The next day, the owner forgot again.

“We’re going to die!” Shrieked the plants.

However, a few days later, their leaves turned from green to yellow. Their petals wilted, fruits rotten. What surprised the actual the most, however, was the fact that they weren’t panicking any more. They were exchanging goodbyes, telling the other’s about their happiest memories. The cactus was confused.

“You’re going to die soon! Why are you so calm?”

The other plants said, “Even though we are going to die soon, our lives were eventful. We appreciated ourselves and lived life happily.”

Soon after, they passed on. the cactus reflected on their words as he grieved their deaths. If he were to die, would he be happy or content about the way he lived his life? He realised, no, he wouldn’t.

The cactus failed to recognise his own value because he constantly compared himself to others, especially because others, such as the butterfly and the owner, failed to recognise and respect his strengths. His spikes, resilience, and ability to survive harsh conditions are extraordinary qualities—but because others didn’t see them as valuable, he began to believe they weren’t. The real tragedy is not his lack of beauty or flowers, but that he internalised the world's rejection and lost sight of his own worth.

A few months later, their owner returned cactus died as well. Apparently, the owner had passed away, which was why he was unable to water the plants. In that year, their leaves turned apple tree, red flower, purple flower, the owner, and the cactus, all passed on. But they passed on content, because the last few months of his life, the cactus began to understand and appreciate himself, and passed on with a smile.