All That Glitters

The below is an allegorical story drawing on lessons from “Three Decades in Thirty Days” including Never Make Excuses for Yourself or Others, Be An Opportunist and Never Lie. Enjoy :)

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A boy wanted to own a specific car for years; it was tough, sturdy, and was said to last forever. The car could drive through snow, mountains, and water. It was comfortable, spacious and had a unique look. The boy wanted the car to be his - to own and to take care of. The boy loved the car.

He worked hard for it - picking up extra shifts for money, researching the best way to take care of it, and seeking advice on how to best purchase.

The day came when the boy could finally own the car. He felt so honored driving it away. He felt proud of himself for the work he put in to obtaining the car. The boy drove it around town - visiting his favorite parks, favorite restaurants, and even showing it off to his loved ones. He adored the car. He would do anything to have it last all his life. He made sure the oil was always filled, the tires were perfectly pumped with air, and the interior was pristinely polished.   

One day, the boy decided to go show friends his car. But when he arrived, he saw them standing around another car. It was newer, shinier, and brighter than his. It had glowing red paint, chiseled headlights, and a sporty frame. 

"Look at my new car!" The boy’s friend said. As the boy moved closer, he could smell the fresh interior and was blinded by the newly laid paint. He noticed his other friends looking at the new car in awe, paying no attention to his own. The boy turned away with his head low and walked away.

As the following months came and passed, the boy drove the car he loved while thinking of the car he didn’t have. He pictured his friend driving the shiny car, he pictured his other friends being impressed with its brightness, he pictured what it would feel like to drive a car like that, to be seen in a car like that, to own a car like that. He wondered how his friend could've afforded a car so new and flashy, and wondered… if his friend could own a car like that, could the boy?

One day, the engine light came on in the boy’s car. The oil was low.

"That can't be." The boy said to himself, "I always have the oil filled and cleaned. It'll be fine."

On another day, the engine light came on again. The tires needed more air.

"That can't be." The boy said to himself, "I always have the perfect amount of air in the tires. It'll be fine"

And on one more day, the engine light came on for a final time. The battery was almost out.

"That can't be." The boy said to himself, "Batteries last a long time. It'll be fine."

 Until one morning, the boy came out to start his car and heard a click. The battery was dead.

"No worries, I can jump the car." And the boy jumped the car back to life. Until he realized the tires were flat.

"No worries, I can fill up the tires." And the boy grew the tires back. Until he realized there was no oil in the engine.

"No worries, I'll just put more oil in." And the boy filled the tnak with the deep brown oil. But when he started the car, a horrible noise came from the hood and the front began to smoke. The oil had been low for quite some time. The engine was now ruined. The car was now dead.

At the sight of his immobile car, the boy felt confusion. "How did this happen?" The boy said. "I took care of the car - I made sure oil was in it, the tires were filled, and the battery was charged. It must be the car. Clearly this was not the car for me. There must’ve been something wrong with the car. It's a shame it had to die, but I did everything I could."

And with that, the boy left the car and began searching for a new one.

The boy, at first, was excited to find a new car. He could get one like his friend's new and shiny one, or maybe one even better. There were so many options to choose from. Different colors, models and makes. Maybe he could find a car that was bigger than his old one, or maybe he'd like a smaller one. His choices were endless.

The boy went to the dealer and picked out the most sought-after car. "I'd like to buy this one." He said to the dealer.

"I'm sorry, but you do not have enough money for this highly sought-after car." The dealer said.

The boy looked some more and found another car, less expensive but equally appealing. "I'd like to buy this one." He said to the dealer.

"I'm sorry, but this car is out of stock, you'll have to wait to buy this one." The dealer said.

So, the boy continued looking, until he found a car he could afford, just like his friend’s. The boy paid for the new, shiny, bright red car and drove off.

Just as he was before, the boy was proud to drive his new car. He drove it to all his favorite parks and restaurants and showed it off to his loved ones. He made sure the oil was always filled, the tires were perfectly pumped with air, and the interior was pristinely polished. The boy was anticipating the excitement his friends would have when they saw his new, shiny car just as they had for their other friend. But when the boy pulled up to show them, he saw his old car - the car he used to love.

"Look at my new car!" His friend said. "It can drive through snow, mountains and water with ease. It's tough, sturdy and will last forever. It's comfortable, spacious and has a unique look to it."

As the boy's friend’s gathered around the new, sturdy car. They paid no attention to the boy's new, shiny car.

"Where is your new, shiny bright car?" The boy asked the friend.

"I sold it! Although it was fun and pretty, the car wasn't reliable enough to keep. Its engine was weak, the tires were thin, and the interior was crowded. This car here is sturdy and valuable, it'll last forever."

The boy, with his head held high, went back to his new car and drove off.

—

The boy in the next days could not get his friend’s words out of his mind.

The car wasn't reliable.

Weak engine.

Thin tires.

Crowded interior.

The boy would do anything to prove his friend wrong. “It is reliable, it does have a strong engine, it does have tires that could cut through anything, and an interior that could fit more than needed” the boy told himself.

The boy over the next months poured all his effort into his new, shiny car to make sure it held its value. He would obsessively make sure the tires were always filled. He would lift the hood several times a day to make sure it was running properly. He kept the inside clutter free to make it more spacious.

But despite the boy’s best efforts, he could no longer disregard the flaws on the new, shiny car. Yes, the tires were always filled but could not drive through snow without slipping. Yes, the engine was running smoothly but did not have the capacity to get to the speed the boy wanted. Yes, the inside was clutter free and roomy, but the boy could not transfer larger objects.

The boy wondered, if he had put this much effort into his old car, if it would still be working. He wondered if he had made a mistake. So, he went back to the yard where he left it.

Upon arrival, the boy could not find his old car. He searched and searched, but all that was left was an imprint of his once beloved car covered by dirt, soot and weeds. The boy wondered what happened to his old car – did someone take it? Did someone fix it? Is someone driving it now? Or did it get trashed somewhere? How far should the boy go to look for it? And what if he does find it…what condition will it be in? Will it be able to be driven? Will he need to buy it back? Or should he just accept what he did and let it go.

The boy turned around and looked at his new, shiny car. He knew the car he had now did not deserve to be abandoned either. He had to decide: either face his past actions and go find the car he disregarded, or stay with the choice he made.

—

The sun hit the red paint and the wind passed through the boy’s hair as the windows rolled down. He gripped the steering wheel with his new, shiny car. The boy continued to take care of his car - making sure it lasted as long as possible. He did not search for his old car – not out of apathy, but out of selflessness. The boy, deep down, was afraid he could not give his old car what it needed. The boy knew the car would be taken better care of by someone else, all while learning that it’s failure was not due to the car, but due to the boy. The boy now would, therefore, prove to himself that he can take care of something, value something, and respect something. He would see his old car pass by time to time, and it reminded him of the mistakes he made, and how he never wanted to repeat them with his new car. After a while, he felt at peace and at home with his shiny car, understanding that it’s prosperity relied on him.

As the boy drove off, with a humble smile, he thought to himself, “The advantages you have today, might not be there tomorrow”.