In life, we often encounter moments that challenge our expectations and disrupt our routines. These moments present opportunities to explore new possibilities, pushing us to the edge of our familiar thinking, behaviors, and choices. Consider the metaphorical tale of the apple tree and the traveler — a story that encapsulates the essence of these experiences and the sometimes nonsensical demands we place on life.

The Story of Apples and Oranges

An apple tree received a visit from a traveler. The traveler asked the apple tree for oranges and questioned why the apple tree didn’t give him oranges. The apple tree explained in many ways that it only provides apples. The traveler argued, explaining why oranges were the best thing for him, that he was good at eating oranges, had come a long way, and always got oranges everywhere, so the apple tree should give them. He continued demanding oranges and complained about how much time he had wasted meeting the apple tree only to not get oranges. Yet, he got silence.

This story illustrates a fundamental philosophical lesson: the folly of expecting something different from what is inherently given. The apple tree, by its very nature, produces apples, not oranges. The traveler’s insistence on receiving oranges from an apple tree highlights a common human tendency — to demand from life what it cannot provide, rather than appreciating and utilizing what is actually available.