In the small village of Aroha, nestled among ancient kauri trees, lived Tama, an old painter known for his wisdom and tranquil artistry. One autumn morning, a young painter named Billy sought Tama’s guidance, troubled by his inability to create a groundbreaking masterpiece.
Tama invited Billy to paint with him in a clearing, where the morning sun filtered through the leaves. Handing Billy a palette, he urged, “Begin.”
Billy hesitated, overwhelmed by the pressure to produce something exceptional. Observing this, Tama, with a gentle chuckle, said, “You seek to control the river’s flow with your hands when you should let it carry you. Your ego weighs you down. Let it go.”
“How can I let go when I want to be remembered?” Billy confessed, his voice laden with ambition.
“Who wants to be remembered?” Tama questioned softly. “Is it you, or the idea of you that your ego has constructed? To truly tap into creativity, you must embrace the beginner’s mind, open to all possibilities, marvelling at the world as if seeing it for the first time.”
Encouraged, Billy began to paint, trying to forget his fears and focus on the beauty of the moment. He painted the clearing, capturing the ephemeral light, the rustle of leaves, and the cool breeze. As he painted, he felt his heart unburden, finding joy in the simple act of creation.
Later, they admired their work. Billy’s canvas, once dauntingly blank, now sang with the vibrant life of the clearing. He had captured the essence of the moment, something profound and beautiful.
Tama smiled, placing a hand on Billy’s shoulder. “In letting go of the need to be great, you’ve achieved something truly beautiful. Remember, the river does not flow in vain; it carves its path, seen or unseen. So it is with us.”
Under Tama’s guidance, Billy learned to let go, to paint not with his fears but with his heart, embracing the beauty of the present. In doing so, he discovered his true superpower was not in striving for immortality, but in capturing the fleeting, precious beauty of now.