She kicked a stone morosely into the stream and watched it ricochet off a rock, dance on the ripples and then sink into the blue depths. Shoulders hunched, she didn’t hear him walk up behind her.
‘What’s the matter, my dear?’
She looked up with tears streaming down her face. ‘Nobody. That’s what I am. A nobody and a nothing.’
‘Everyone is worth something. Why do you feel this way?’
She rubbed her nose and replied, ‘ Look around you. Do you see any value to my existence? I add nothing of importance. I may as well not exist.’
Holding out his hand, he guided her to a large mountain face. He drew a single, vertical line. ‘Do you know what this is?’
She made a face and said, ‘Of course! Everyone knows! Exactly my point.’
He smiled and said, ‘Here, stand next to it, on its right. What do you see?’
‘Nothing. Like I said, no change.’
‘All right. Now, stand to its left. What happens?’
She stood, looked at herself and a small grin appeared. ‘OH! I like this! Can I be here all the time?’
A gentle breeze stirred his hair as he helped her back down. ‘No, my dear. That is not your purpose.’
‘Why ever not?’she pouted.
‘For it is in your uniqueness that your value lies. You add the balance that is necessary. You can lift someone up or keep them grounded based on where you stand.’
That is your Zen.
Gratitude flooding her face, Zero looked up at her Maker and thanked him for the valuable lesson.
~~~~
My theme for the Challenge this year is
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Thank you for reading. I appreciate you stopping by 🙂
You made it to Z! Nice job at meeting the Challenge.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Road trippin’ with A to Z
Tossing It Out
Zen and Zero.. Nice one Shailaja ji :).
Thank you 🙂
Thank you 🙂 *blush* <3
Thank you 🙂
I think they are hiding in me somewhere 😉 Thanks Raj!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Much like my name. I know 😉
Thank you 🙂 Lots to catch up on your blog! Will do asap.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you 🙂 for reading each one of them! So touched!
Special hugs from across the oceans from me to you <3
Thank you 🙂 For reading and sharing 🙂
Thank you Elly <3
Many thanks! Wish you the same 🙂
Thank you 🙂
You are the only one who found the double ‘Z’ connection 😀 Thanks! <3
Thank you 🙂
You didn’t expect anything else from me, I know 😉
Thank you 🙂
Yes, it feels great! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you 🙂
You nailed this one, Shailaja. 🙂 Awesome!
A zen-tastic end to AtoZ by an equally zen-tastic Godmother. 😀 You totally rocked this challenge, Shailaja. Congrats!
*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
Great one to end with a bang! I so enjoyed reading all your stories. Congrats Shailaja 🙂
oh how.. how do you find such twists. Brilliant narration and story 😀
Zen is a good way to end the challenge.
What a beautiful story.?
Perfect ending to the A-Z. The very word “Zen” elicits calm. 🙂
Thanks a ton, Vinay!
Thank you Shilpa 🙂
Wonderful story!! Btw, I did the same word too!
You said goodbye with a bang 🙂 lovely post.
Thank you for all the wonderful flash fiction you’ve shared with us throughout this challenge 🙂
Good one! I’ve enjoyed your short stories (I read every single one). Congrats on finishing the challenge! 🙂
Loved this immensely. Very inspiring! 🙂
What a sweet touching post Shailaja! 🙂 What a way to end! Thanks for sharing all your brilliant writings with us: I have enjoyed reading each and every one of them..you are such a ‘master’ at it! 😉 <3
Lovely! 🙂
Congratulations on completing A-Z Challenge 😀
My A-Z posts: http://sundarivenkatraman.blogspot.in
congratulations ! perfect summation ! my post http://poojasharmarao.blogspot.in/2015/04/zen-in-life-death-in-memory-of-my-late.html
Zen and zero. Nice. You did it. Yay!
Naice!
Lovely ending to the A-Z series, and it had to be “Zen” of course :).
Nice
This is your Z post. You’re done! Doesn’t that feel good?
BTW, I’m dropping in from a shout out to your blog from Rosie Amber’s blog https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.
@dino0726 from
FictionZeal – Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews
Truly a zen post. Congrats for nailing it:)
That is sweet!
Oh! How philosophical yet fun 🙂 Loved the ending.
Aww! So sweet! 🙂