The Pond
Written By Marielle Iarathelle Trinidad
The huge yellow fish lingers around the small pond, a queen of the area, easily navigating every nook and cranny of the small body of water. She was used to living through the pond, despite how many of her friends left the area to jump into the rivers and take on the journey to the sea. Schools of fish come and go, yet for more than a decade, you’ll find her staying where she is, believing that it was always the way to live- a safe place ever since she was born.
The huge yellow fish wouldn’t even dare scratch the thick layer of algae above the surface, very content with navigating the darkness through the murky waters. Her safe life has taught her of living just with what she could have, scared of what will happen if ever she lets go of what she originally had in the first place. She would rather go over the same pebbles below her and look at the same kelp slowly dancing through the almost stagnant water.
Whenever she would think of reasons for leaving, she would find herself asking all kinds of questions about what she could gain and lose. What if she ends up pained instead of gaining whatever they tell her? What if she loses everything just because she wanted to gain more? Will there be anything better than what she has right now, living simply and being able to survive the perils of the cruel world?
There was always comfort in permanence anyway.
But no matter how much she attempts to try and deviate from what she could still do, no matter how she believes that there’s nothing more to living, the peeking sunshine covered by the thick algae makes her what-ifs burn.
There was comfort in permanence, but growth only happens in the uncomfortable.
The only way to find out was to jump into the unknown, move forward, and make an action- because that’ll be the only way change will be ever possible. As she swims forward despite great fear and reluctance, she learns she wasn’t a huge yellow fish. The beautiful sunshine reveals her real color, scales, and fins shining with all their glory. She learned she wasn’t huge, with a lot of other animals swimming who are a lot bigger than her. There was a lot more than what she learned her whole lifetime, and even if it scares her, she was thankful she took the leap.
It doesn’t mean that the pond was something she hated, but she would’ve regretted staying longer instead of taking the risk that would lead her to learn. Sure, it wasn’t easy. It would never be. But even if she got hurt, even if she changed, she surely grew for the better. She thanks the pond for being her home, but she thanks the seas for eroding her corners and making her learn who she really is.
There was always comfort in permanence.
But changes lead to knowing yourself.
