Do People Change?

A man came to see the world famous sage Puram Bam. He found the sage in his small bungalow, reading a thick black book. “Oh wise sage,” he said. “I need your help!” “Do you?” asked Puram Bam, his eyes on the thick black book. “I don’t know how to live my life anymore!” said the man. “I know that I’m capable of great things and yet everything I’ve ever accomplished has been mediocre at best! I dream of glory, but my existence is dull. I set out to achieve brilliant things, but I settle too soon. I’m always busy, yet so little gets done. I get richer, but feel poorer. My face smiles, but my soul cries. I’m suffocating! I feel that I’m not living the life I was created to live.” “Do you?” asked Puram Bam, his eyes still on the thick black book. “I need your advice,” said the man. “How should I live my life without feeling that I’m wasting my years? You’re so wise. Please help me!” Puram Bam looked up. “You’re a smart man,” he said. “You already know the answer. People don’t change.” And he returned to reading his thick book. The man’s face became red like a ripe tomato. He stood up. “I see,” he said. “Thank you for sharing your wisdom, sage.” And then he left. Now his face was white as stone. And there was cold fire in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Years passed. One day the same man appeared at Puram Bam’s door again. He looked at Puram Bam who was reading a thin white book. He smiled. “I came to thank you,” he said. “Did you?” said Puram Bam, his eyes on the thin white book. “You probably don’t remember me, but years ago you said I would never accomplish anything. I’ve proved you wrong.” “Have you?” asked Puram Bam, his eyes still on the thin white book. “Yes,” said the man. “Yes, I have. When I left your house I was angry. Angry at you, angry at myself, angry at the entire world. But soon I realized that anger would not get me far. I wanted to show you and myself that I could change. And so I stopped doing what didn’t matter, and I let go things that meant nothing to my soul, and I started to work harder than I had ever worked in my life. And every time I was about to give up or settle for a mediocre result or let go my dreams, I heard your words ringing in my ears. People Don’t Change. But they do! I’m living proof of that. I have accomplished great things, I do what I love and I no longer feel that I’m wasting my time. Now I’m living the life I’ve always felt I was created for. I’m living every moment of it and this is the best feeling in the world! And I feel like I’m just getting started. So I came here to thank you and tell you that you were wrong about me.” “Was I?” asked Puram Bam. He looked up from his book and said, “Squash a caterpillar — and it will never become a butterfly. Yet it is born to be one. People don’t change.” And he went back to reading his thin white book.