A young seagull asked an old friend for advice on how to become wise.
“I have travelled all over the world and I have seen a lot,” replied the old seagull.
The young seagull thanked his older compatriot and went home. He spent the next month flying over each continent and returned back to the old seagull to tell him about it.
“Master, I have flown over every continent in this world. I have seen more than most seagulls will ever see. Have I travelled enough to attain wisdom like yours?”
The old seagull answered, “Not yet.”
The young seagull went home again, determined this time to reach his goal of ultimate wisdom. He spent the next year visiting several countries on different continents and spending a few days in each one. He then went back to the old seagull and reported.
“Master, I have visited so many countries. I believe I have seen everything there is to know about the world. Have I travelled enough to attain wisdom like yours?”
The old seagull exhaled heavily and replied, “Not yet.”
The young seagull went on to visit even more countries. This time he decided to spend two weeks in each new place. After two weeks in the first country, mingling with the local birds and trying the local food, it came time for him to leave. He realized two weeks had been insufficient. In the second country he decided to spend two months instead. After two months there, studying the local bird language and making new friends, it came time for him to depart once again. The seagull realized that even two months had not been enough to get to know the new place fully, so he decided to spend two years living in the third country. Finally, after ten years of travelling and living abroad, the young seagull went back to talk to the old one to share his learning.
“Master, I give up. I have spent so many years trying to visit many countries and acquire wisdom from each place. I feel that the world is too vast and there is too much to see. I will never truly know everything.”
The old seagull smiled at the young one and said, “Now, I believe, you have travelled enough to attain my wisdom.”
THE END
Great lesson! Wisdom can be acquired not necessarily by the number of years you have had but more from the experiences that come your way during the walk of life.