I received this uplifting story a while ago and the moral of the story lingers and feels especially good to hear at this time of year, when the ground is still. Please enjoy.

One day a man decided to quit. He quit his job, his relationship, his spirituality. He wanted to quit life.

He went to the woods to leave and came across a wise sage. There he asked for one good reason why he shouldn't quit.  

"Look around", The sage said. 

"Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", the man replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo.

He said, "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit."

He said, "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me, "Did you know, my child that all this time you have been struggling you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said, "the bamboo had a different purpose from the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", The sage said. "You too will rise."

I love this fable, comparison is the thief of joy and you are on the right path for you, this is especially true for our yoga practice. Years and years of work planting roots, trying to improve and sometimes it all clicks into place when you never expect it to! Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences. Both are essential to life. Keep going.