Guest post by @kriskazy; A tale of an eagle

The sun went to eat it's supper and the moon came with the stars....
The beauty in this darkness brought to mind a tale of a bird.

A little bird grew up with zero confidence. He was called ugly and weak from birth. He grew up but couldn't fly, he didn't belive he could rise above the nest of his birth for he was told his wings were not strong. Whenever he tried to fly he wouldn't go high.
He watched others soar high from the sidelines. They tagged him a disgrace to eagles. Some called him "Chicken", a mistake among his kind...
His mother never looked at him, he was a failure. His father disapproved of him. What a waste he was! Sometimes his younger sister would soar so high into the sky and while decending she would purposely take a shit on him as he looked on and all would laugh.
He had never left the nest of his birth because he was scared what would happen if he tried to fly. His age mates grew up and made their own nests but he didn't. Some travelled so far, they never perch in a place for long. They only come once in a while to share their amazing tales but he had none to tell. All he could do was listen. He didn't live, he only existed.

One day, there was a strong wind and many trees in the jungle fell including the tree his nest rested on. ..His already weak wings got hurt. No other bird was on the nest they had all gone for a fleet ealier.

He limped as he walked. Untill he saw a pack of chickens. They were scared when they saw an eagle, king of all birds. The mother hen became protective of her own but this young eagle didn't move any further, he stayed there quietly, looking at the birds.
They could not fly high, they were like him. "Lucky them" he thought. "No one expected them to go higher but the world expected him to". Thus he remained there. Making the ground his nest.
His strange quietness bought him their pity. Soon, they started giving him some of their feed.

One day, a little chick asked him, " Why aren't you flying? why are you here?". He replied, sadly. "I'm weak". But the chick replied, "Your an eagle, you're strong by nature. You can't be weak". "But i am" he muttered. Then the chick said something weird. "We are what we believe we are. If you believe your weak, you will never be strong. Your will power affects your ability". In protest the eagle said, " My mom said i was born weak, Its my nature". "Then your mom is the architect of your failure young eagle. We are what we settle for", Said the hen who had being listening quietly to their conversation. "Its hard being an eagle", the eagle said painfully. "Its hard being anything" replied the hen.!" Its not easy being a chicken. We are weak and preys to many predators. Its hard for us to survive. But there is no excuse to failure. No one cares about your excuses, they will only remember your failure. Even those who act like they understand your plight, when you fall out with them, they will use it against you". The hen ended calmly.
"Don't allow people to define you. Don't believe in their definition of you. Their opinion should count little. Believing you're what people say you are is the beginging of your failure and unrest. Be arrogant enough to reject their predictions and prove them wrong. When they say your weak? prove them wrong. When they say your strong? show them you're stronger than they can imagine! When they praise you, don't take it too serious, for you don't know what is in their mind. Don't crave to be loved by others, don't try to impress them. Care less about their opinions. Be the architect and judge of your life". Said the old wise cock, who was listening quietly.

As the sun went home for a break and the stars and the moon came to work, the eagle thought about all he was told and decided to believe in himself.
The next day he tried to fly, but couldnt go high. He didn't quit nor stop. He kept trying relentlessly day after day and with time his flight got higher and higher. In a while, he no longer flew like a chicken but like an EAGLE. He soared higher and higher. Soon he made a nest of his own and was able to travel far and wide,crossing hills and mountains, seeing the beauty of nature. The other eagles were speechless. His family were shocked at his sudden change. His newly found confidence shut their mouth up. Some speculated all sort of theories but he didn't care. Every year he pays a visit to the pack of chickens, though he wasn't their kind they were his family. For family isn't just about blood, its about who was there for you, In the darkest nights..

Nature, does not make us weak or inferior, Rather the people around us do. When they tag us weak or inferior compared to others we unwisely accept that as who we are. Our beliefs can either be our paralysis or our drive towards success.....

You could drop any moral lesson from the story as your comment. I.e if you please....
Thanks for reading! I hope you've been motivated!