Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a grumpy old man who loved to complain about everything. One day, he went to the local blacksmith and asked for a chain to keep his things safe. The blacksmith made a chain so strong that no one could ever break it. But as soon as the old man got the chain, he started to complain about how heavy it was!

The next day, the village held a brain-teasing competition. The old man decided to participate, thinking he could finally show off his intelligence. But when he looked at the questions, he realized he couldn't even explain them. So, he started to complain again!

Just then, a wise old sage walked by and heard the old man's complaints. He told him, "Complain all you want, but it won't change the situation. Instead, try to find the main problem and find a solution for it."

The old man took the sage's advice and started to think about his problems. He realized that his chain was heavy because he needed to carry it everywhere he went. So, he decided to keep it at home and only take what he needed with him. And when it came to the brain-teasing competition, he studied the questions and found the answers.

In the end, the old man did not complain anymore and instead found joy in solving his problems. He even gained the respect of the villagers for his newfound wisdom.

The moral of the story is: Instead of complaining, try to find the main problem and find a solution for it.

Reflections

1. Why did the old man complain about the chain?
2. What advice did the sage give to the old man?
3. How did the old man solve his problems?
4. What did the old man gain in the end?
5. Can you think of a time when you solved a problem instead of complaining about it?