The Scorpion and the Frog
A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the
scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The
frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion
says, “Because if I do, I will die too.”
The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,
the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of
paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,
but has just enough time to gasp “Why?”
Replies the scorpion: “Its my nature…”
I’ve heard this Aesop fable ages ago when I was young, but recently came across it again, and for reasons you will soon find out, it struck a chord.
But before I get into that, here’s a little story of my own:
The Girl and the Fries
A girl and her friend meet at the mall and the
friend asks the girl if she wants to eat fries.
She said no, because she wanted to be healthy.
The friend is satisfied, and they set out to eat healthy stuff,
but midway through ordering, the girl orders fries.
The friend gasps and asks “Why?”
Replies the girl: “Its my nature…”
I don’t think I need to tell you who the girl in the story is 🙂 Anyhow, it got me thinking about people’s nature, and whether or not they can change. I mean, my nature is to eat fries, and you don’t see me changing that anytime soon.
Okay, so first, let me confess : I haven’t let go. I know I said in my last post that I would. But when a guy tells you “I love you” and “I will not go back to who I used to be”, you just kind of .. well.. believe him? Or rather, want to believe him.
And I really do want to believe that he can change. But I have to admit I am scared. What if the person he was – the kind of person I know I can’t be with – what if that was his nature? And what if that can’t be changed?
What if he started off like the frog – with good intentions, you know. ‘Of course I won’t sting you, why would I do that’. But then, when I least expect it, while I am happily swimming in the stream, I would feel it – his sting. He might not have planned it or wanted it to happen, but like the scorpion, maybe it’s in his nature. Maybe he just can’t help himself.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and I really didn’t know if I should believe him.
But then I heard this: “When you believe in people, people come through”
Maybe that’s what I should do? Believe him. Give him a second chance. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Find out if the scorpion will sting.
What do you guys think?
Of Fries And Men 
Mine was an alcoholic when I met him and stayed that way until he landed himself in the hospital for 3 days. He still falls off the wagon every now and then – because that’s his nature. But it’s better, and sometimes better is all we can hope for.
Hmm.. that’s a profound thought “sometimes better is all we can hope for”.. thanks for sharing your story!
Hop away from that one before his sting does damage that can’t be healed. I speak from experience.
I wish it was that easy to hop away.. how did you manage to?
I thought marrying mine would change him but alas it just made it worse. Sometime you just need to realize that natures may not change. Truthfully, it’s just the level of which you decide you can accept the nature.
P.S. I totally did not accept it and moved on. But it wasn’t easy either! Good luck!
You’re absolutely right.. maybe it has less to do with their nature, but more to do with how much you can accept it.. thanks for the thought!
I love your way of writing. They say “It’s better to have loved and loss then to not have loved at all”. Would it be worth it?
Thank you so much.. I ask myself that and honestly I don’t know.. it would hurt like hell for sure.. but who’s to say if it will be worth it?
You are. It’s your heart. It’s your time. It’s your energy. Will you feel like you wasted it or will you feel like it was worth it in the end even if something (creator forbid) goes wrong..?
That’s what I’m trying to figure out – will it all be worth it in the end? I don’t have an answer for you yet.. but hopefully i will soon!
I wish you well in whatever you decide. Peace, love and happiness ❤
firstly i love reading bout fries,honestly who wouldn’t…
anyways i think it comes down to whether the sting of the scorpion is worth it.
You kinda have to take the risk if you think its worth your while,but obviously when it starts to be more than you can take you have to let go…