The Snail Seeking Happiness
Snails are born with homes, but this particular snail was deeply dissatisfied with its own. Many envied it for having a cozy little home without effort, yet it felt its home was too insignificant and brought no prestige. It admired how sparrows' nests were perched high on branches, allowing them to look down upon others from above; the bees’ hives were splendid and grand; even spiders lived comfortably without much work thanks to their advantageous homes.
Day after day, crawling laboriously on the ground, the snail felt inferior. Watching rabbits sprinting far and fast, sparrows boasting from lofty branches, bees flying across mountains and rivers, and ants accumulating treasures in their burrows, it resolved to change its life and destiny.
Born into such humble circumstances, it had always looked up at others from the foot of the hill. Thus, it yearned to reverse this situation and look down upon others from a higher position. With this goal set, it began climbing toward the treetops.
Carrying its heavy shell, it climbed very slowly. Day by day, it gradually lost confidence and grew weary of the toil. It increasingly viewed its home as a burden and an obstacle to happiness, eventually contemplating abandoning its home to seek a new path.
Finding a new, prestigious, and happy home became its goal. After some deliberation, it set its sights on a spider. It chose the spider because not only was its home high on a branch, but also its lifestyle was superior. The snail had once visited the spider's home, standing high above and looking down at ants and rabbits working below. It had experienced a sense of superiority and transcendence.
The snail started a romance with the spider. As their relationship heated up, the spider demanded that the snail abandon its home and shell to join him in his web-based life.
The snail readily agreed, inwardly marveling: "If I hadn't been ambitious and pursued my dreams, I would have remained a lowly snail crawling on the ground forever, never finding happiness."
It asked God to remove its home and shell. God replied, "This is my gift to you, unique among all creatures, divinely ordained, and cannot be separated by man. If fame doesn't come soon, I will jump off the building. Do you dare take it away now? Are you not afraid of punishment?" Confident in her decision and intelligence, the snail insisted on leaving its home and shell. God complied, though separating from its home caused the snail great pain, both physically and mentally, shedding much blood. Yet, for future happiness, it endured and parted ways with its home.
After enduring excruciating pain akin to parting with one's flesh and blood, the snail healed its wounds, becoming free to come and go. The spider welcomed it into the web.
Initially, it did feel a sense of superiority living high above others. However, over time, it became increasingly uncomfortable. Previously, despite its toils and poverty, it could retreat into its shell during wind, rain, or sun exposure. Now, suspended in the web without the protection of its shell, it couldn't bear the sun's scorching heat or withstand wind and rain. The spider, accustomed to this lifestyle, showed no empathy, while the snail suffered silently. Being different species with distinct life experiences and customs, they struggled to communicate effectively. Even when they tried, mutual understanding was impossible. Gradually, the snail felt immense loneliness and helplessness.
At this point, it longed for its shell and home, returning secretly to check on it. To its dismay, another snail had moved in. There was no way back.
Living in the spider's home, it indeed didn’t need to work hard and was well-fed, but due to lack of exercise, its body weakened. The idleness led to spiritual emptiness. While the spider was busy weaving new webs and catching insects, the snail spent days alone on the web, feeling suspended and void rather than grounded happiness.
It kept asking God: "Why, after enduring the pain of separation from my home and shell in pursuit of happiness, do I end up like this?" God smiled silently. One day, a sparrow told it: "Most who consider themselves smart and refuse advice, failing to cherish what they have, end up this way."
Upon hearing these words, the snail's heart sank. On a stormy night, it accidentally fell from the web and froze to death on the ground.