2023/Cormac -

There were once three companions: a cardinal, a young robin, and an old crow. When the seasons changed, they would migrate to distant lands. They would venture to different places each time, and almost never the same place twice. Whenever they reached the new lands, they would make friends with the birds there, but when they left, they had to leave those friends behind. The birds were very social creatures and valued friendships above all else.

One day the cardinal decided that he’d had enough of their wanderings and decided to settle down. This way, he thought, he would never have to lose a friend again. He might not make many new ones, but he felt it was worth it, and this new life suited him. The crow and robin bid farewell to the cardinal and carried on.

Eventually, the crow felt that the pain of losing friends was too great, and thought to himself that if he never made friends, he could never lose any. He started to isolate himself from others. Slowly but surely, the crow became miserable and felt even more pain than before. But he was a stubborn beast, and never changed his ways.

The young robin, however, did not change, instead continuing to make and lose friends. He was the happiest he could be, feeling sadness for those he had to leave, but great joyousness for the new friends he made. And so, he lived cheerfully for the rest of his days.