Many of you will remember the fairy tales "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "The Ugly Duckling" written by 19th century Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. Lately, I've decided to include children's books among those I've scheduled to read and do some nutshell abstracts. The authors Grimm brothers and Christian Hans Andersen come to mind.
To recall, "The Ugly Duckling" demonstrates Andersen's sympathies for anyone who in a way, is an "outsider" in search to belong, to be accepted. The story is about a duck ostracized by his fellow fowl because of his perceived homeliness. To his happiness and surprise, including the others, he eventually matures into a graceful swan.
In any kind of group - society, interest groups, workplace, church, or even in dot com community and forums - like the ugly duckling, we want to get in, to belong, to be accepted, especially when some "cliques" become quite apparent even if they don't want to admit it.
Sometimes we go through life when we feel different from some people around us. The duckling was not ugly at all. He was simply different. Yet, he suffered humiliation and sadness, teased and ostracized by his fellow ducks. He was even unjustly beaten by some of them. These can be uncomfortable, lonely and painful.
One day he flew --- then eventually "found" himself, fully realizing there's really nothing wrong with him. Like the ugly duckling, we can hope for acceptance and be appreciative when it happens. And, like the ugly duckling, our time will come when we will be accepted, even loved.
Image Credit:
www.CartoonStock.com
To recall, "The Ugly Duckling" demonstrates Andersen's sympathies for anyone who in a way, is an "outsider" in search to belong, to be accepted. The story is about a duck ostracized by his fellow fowl because of his perceived homeliness. To his happiness and surprise, including the others, he eventually matures into a graceful swan.
In any kind of group - society, interest groups, workplace, church, or even in dot com community and forums - like the ugly duckling, we want to get in, to belong, to be accepted, especially when some "cliques" become quite apparent even if they don't want to admit it.
Sometimes we go through life when we feel different from some people around us. The duckling was not ugly at all. He was simply different. Yet, he suffered humiliation and sadness, teased and ostracized by his fellow ducks. He was even unjustly beaten by some of them. These can be uncomfortable, lonely and painful.
One day he flew --- then eventually "found" himself, fully realizing there's really nothing wrong with him. Like the ugly duckling, we can hope for acceptance and be appreciative when it happens. And, like the ugly duckling, our time will come when we will be accepted, even loved.
Image Credit:
www.CartoonStock.com
