Story 1 – The Lost Wallet
One rainy afternoon, Daniel was walking home from work. He kept his hands deep in his coat
pockets, trying to stay warm. As he crossed the street, he noticed something on the ground. It
was a black wallet, wet from the rain. Daniel picked it up and looked inside. There was some
cash, credit cards, and even an ID card.
For a moment, he thought about keeping the money. After all, he had just paid his rent, and he
was left with very little for the week. But then he remembered what his father always said:
“What isn’t yours will never bring you peace.” Daniel sighed, closed the wallet, and decided to
find the owner.
He went to the address on the ID card. An elderly woman opened the door, looking worried.
When Daniel explained why he had come, her eyes filled with tears. “That’s my son’s wallet!
He’s been searching everywhere for it,” she said. Her son soon appeared, relieved and thankful.
He offered Daniel some money as a reward, but Daniel refused. “Just knowing you got it back is
enough,” he smiled.
That night, Daniel walked home with an empty pocket but a full heart.
Lesson: Doing the right thing brings more peace than temporary gain.
Story 2 – The Girl and the Starfish
On a quiet beach at sunrise, a young girl was picking up starfish and throwing them back into the
sea. An old man walking by stopped and asked, “Why are you doing that? There are thousands
of starfish here. You can’t save them all. It doesn’t matter.”
The girl looked at him, held up a starfish, and said, “It matters to this one,” before throwing it
back into the water.
The old man stood silently, surprised by her simple answer. He then bent down, picked up a
starfish, and tossed it into the waves. Soon, others walking by joined in. By the end of the
morning, hundreds of starfish had been saved.
Lesson: Small actions can create big changes, especially when they inspire others.
Story 3 – The Empty Pot
In ancient China, an emperor wanted to find an honest successor. He gave every child in the
kingdom a seed and said, “Return in one year with your plant. The one with the best result will
be the next ruler.”
A boy named Jun took great care of his seed. He watered it daily and placed it in sunlight, but
nothing grew. A year later, children returned with tall plants and colorful flowers. Jun,
embarrassed but honest, brought his empty pot.
The emperor looked at all the plants and smiled at Jun. “The seeds I gave you were boiled; they
could not grow. You are the only one who was honest enough to bring me an empty pot. You
will be the new emperor.”
Lesson: Honesty is more valuable than success built on lies.
Story 4 – The Ant and the Grasshopper (Modern Version)
In a small town, an ant worked hard every summer. He saved money, repaired his house, and
stored food. Meanwhile, the grasshopper spent his time singing, dancing, and enjoying himself.
When winter came, the ant lived comfortably in his warm house with enough food. The
grasshopper, however, was cold and hungry. He knocked on the ant’s door, asking for help. The
ant sighed but shared what he could. “Next year, think ahead,” he advised.
Lesson: Hard work and planning prepare us for tough times.
Story 5 – The Old Carpenter
An old carpenter was ready to retire after many years of building houses. His boss asked him to
build one last house before leaving. The carpenter agreed, but his heart wasn’t in it. He used
cheap materials and rushed through the work.
When the house was finished, the boss handed him the keys. “This is your house,” he said. “A
gift for your years of service.”
The carpenter stood frozen. Shame filled him—if only he had built it with care! Now he had to
live in the poorly built house he had made.
Lesson: Whatever you do, do it with care—you’re building your own life.
