The Apple Tree and the Banana Tree
In Ben’s garden stood two trees: a banana tree and an apple tree.
Ben, who loved bananas, would often visit the garden, stroking the banana tree and completely ignoring the apple tree. This hurt the apple tree, making it feel invisible and unappreciated.
Whenever Ben showed friends around, he praised the banana tree, openly expressing his dislike for the apple tree. Each time, the apple tree felt more and more disheartened and wished it could become a banana tree, just to gain Ben’s affection.
One day, both trees were given a unique opportunity: to attend Harvard and study techniques that would help them grow better fruit. The apple tree, feeling the pressure to change, decided to study how to produce bananas, hoping this would win Ben’s love and admiration.
After four years, the trees returned to Ben’s garden. The banana tree bore its usual large bunches of ripe, yellow bananas. Meanwhile, the apple tree, applying the techniques learned at Harvard, produced large, golden bananas—bigger and more vibrant than the ones on the banana tree.
Ben proudly brought his best friend to the garden, eager to showcase his trees. When he saw the golden bananas on the apple tree, he eagerly picked one and took a bite. But to his dismay, he spat it out—because it tasted like an apple!
Furious, Ben accused the apple tree of deceiving him. He felt betrayed and continued to criticize the tree.
Seeing Ben’s reaction, his friend calmly said, "Try it again, but this time with an open mind." He took a bite of the banana from the apple tree, smiled, and said, “It may taste like an apple, but it’s still unique and special.”
The friend then turned to the apple tree and asked it to share its story.
The apple tree explained how it had changed to produce bananas, but despite its efforts, it could never change its essence. “I will always be an apple tree,” it said, “but I am grateful for what I learned along the way.”
The friend turned to Ben and said:
“I love apples. No matter what form they take, I will always appreciate them. But Ben, you love bananas. Even if they look like bananas, as long as they taste like apples, you may never truly appreciate them for what they are.”
Ben sat in silence, realizing the truth. He had tried to change the apple tree into something it was never meant to be, pushing it to conform to his expectations.
The friend then said, "Your garden is full of different fruits. I appreciate the apples you’ve grown today. If you no longer wish to take care of this apple tree, I’ll gladly take it home and plant it in my own garden."
Ben was stunned. He had planted the apple tree, and it had value for being true to itself, even though it wasn’t what he expected. The apple tree’s value was not based on Ben’s affection but on its unique essence.
Finally, the apple tree decided: it would focus on growing the best apples it could, regardless of whether Ben kept it in his garden or whether it went to the friend’s. The apple tree now understood that its true value was in nurturing its authentic self.
APPLICATION CORNER
Ms. Hong Mai’s Perspective:
Set goals that truly align with your inner desires and core values. Seek fulfillment, not validation.
By @Viet:
Human potential is limitless—we can transform into the version of ourselves that is true, fulfilling, and authentic.
By @Thuy:
A great companion helps us gain fresh perspectives and focus on what truly matters in life and work.
By @Nam:
Though we cannot choose where we are born, we can develop the self-awareness to decide where we go and how we grow. The power to transform is within us.
Final Thought:
True growth is found in nurturing our authentic selves, not in trying to conform to someone else’s expectations. Only when we embrace our uniqueness can we truly thrive.
