Yanni was a little orphan who lived in a village beside a mountain. He was cared for by an old widow. She sent Yanni to the village school as well. And Yanni helped her out by bringing wood, fetching water and running errands for her.
But Yanni was a very curious little boy. He loved to explore the places around the village. He always wondered what there was on the mountain and the other side of the mountain too. He went a little further every day. One day, he returned so late that the widow was worried.
Then he told her that he wanted to see the mountain. So on holidays, she would pack some sandwiches and an apple for him and he would keep walking all over the mountain, finding new caves, valleys, waterfalls and streams. Gradually, he became stronger and was able to walk longer distances.
One day, he told the widow that it often got dark as he reached high up on the mountain and it was difficult to see his way back. She gave him a lantern and some matches and taught him how to light it.
Now Yanni found he could spend a lot of time exploring the mountain. But he got very discouraged sometimes because he just did not seem to reach the top of the mountain or get to the other side.
One day, the widow found little Yanni sitting outside the hut looking very sad.
“What happened, Yanni?” she asked seriously.
“Nothing much, Aunt Dita,” said Yanni, for that’s what he called her.
“Something must be bothering you today. Did the teacher get angry at school?” she questioned him.
“No, it’s not school,” he replied, “It’s the mountain. I walk all day over there, but I still have not reached the peak or been able to see beyond to the other side.”
“Ah! Yanni, when you climb, you must remember one thing,” said Dita, “Take one step at a time and enjoy it. Then the next and the next. It’s good to have a direction. Then you know where you want to reach. But every step of the journey is as important as the end of the journey.”
“Have you gone there?” asked Yanni.
“Oh, yes! I have. That was years ago,” smiled Dita.
“What’s on that side?”
“That is something you must find out, Yanni, by taking one step at a time!”
Yanni looked very happy. Now he knew he’d climb the mountain soon.
Moral: One step at a time can help cover all distance.
