The Lazy Boy Meet Joe and Willow, a lovely couple with a beautiful home. Joe and Willow loved each
other more than anything else. And after seven long years, they had a child to shower more
love on - a boy they named Jaden. Jaden was the apple of their eye. Anything he ever wanted was given to him, no questions asked. Even as he grew up, he
would sit the whole day watching TV and playing video games. But his parents loved him so
much that although they wanted him to play outside and help around the house, like other
children, they never said anything. They wanted to give him all the love and comfort in the world. Jaden and his parents were
the happiest family. Years later, up in the clouds, there was a meeting of those who largely
run our world: Habits. "Where's dishonesty and tardiness? Tardiness is always late. It's infuriating. Is it? Is tardiness
in the habit of not being on time? I know you are angry and not intelligent, but this is
common knowledge. Don't you anger me, Inertia. Your job is to be lazy and inactive. Being
arrogant is not your job. That's what arrogance is here for." "Only if being me was so easy, eh? So sorry, so sorry. I mean, I tried to be on time, but then
there was this girl down there, and I had to command her to be late for her interview, and
you know how it is. She has to be late for her first interview. That is how her friends will
assume that she is always late. And it is easy for me to command her since nobody is
expecting anything better out of her." "She is right. We are late because of her. I was on time. Um, that's not true. Stop. He is
dishonest after all. He is never going to speak the truth. I've called this meeting about this
boy, Jaden. Oh, yes. Jaden. The miracle child. Yes, the miracle child. Born after seven years,
the only child to Joe and Willow of the prime city." "Let me see. He is 14 years of age now, and for three months, he has been awake till after
midnight, been sleeping till afternoon, not eating his breakfast, not working around the house
, not finishing his homework, and... He had his lunch at school because he didn't like his own.
That's a cue for me. Yes, but there's more. He later lied about it and shows no regret for his
actions." "Yes, he doesn't seem to have any anger issues yet, but there is hope. For now, Inertia,
Arrogance, and Dishonesty, you are up. You three have Jaden at Prime City to command.
Get to work, you three." Down below, as Jaden grew up to be a lonely and lazy boy, he stopped listening to whoever
tried to give him any advice. He would laze around and lie each time he was asked anything.
"Well, I did go to pay the bill, but the office was closed. Jaden, we haven't seen you move
from this couch all morning. Well, I told you I went. If you don't believe it, there's nothing I
can do." Joe and Willow were increasingly worried about Jaden's changing attitude. "Jaden, honey,
this is no way to behave. You are always playing games. You need to look for a job now and
stand on your own two feet." "Well, Father, why weren't you so persistent when I was a child? You gave me everything I
ever wanted, and now all of a sudden you want me to work? If I'm so spoiled, you're the
reason why." "Jaden, you will not speak in that tone with your father, and you cannot blame someone else
because they cared for you. We are your parents, and everything we did was out of love.
You were a child then, and now you are all grown up. You can make your decisions and stop
being so lazy. You are letting bad habits rule over your life and command your actions." "No, I can make friends, live an active life, look for a job, clear my debts anytime I want. I'm
not being ruled over by anyone. That was arrogance. Jaden knew it very well that he needed
help, but arrogance always stopped him from talking to his parents." "Although arrogance was just one problem, and each time Jaden wished to do something,
inertia would pull him down. And if that wasn't enough, dishonesty had made him lose all his
friends. Jaden was lonely and tired all the time." One fine morning, Jaden woke up before the sun did. Surprised as he was, he immediately
put on his clothes and decided to go to the garden for some fresh air. He went to the park, sat
on a bench, and stared at the sun who was still rising. It was after a very long time that Jaden
was feeling good. "It's a beautiful garden, eh? Where'd you come from?" "Well, I'm the gardener. I'm always
around. Breathe while you can, mate. This will all end soon." "What do you mean?" "Well,
you see these particular weeds there? They're poisonous to that tree over there." "Soon, all the goodness of that tree will be gone, and so will the view of this park." "You are
the gardener. Why don't you do anything about it?" "Well, I'm going to need help, and not
many folks would want to help a gardener weed out the garden and get their clothes all dirty."
"Jayden looked at the weeds pointed one by one, and was suddenly worried. He didn't want
the garden to lose the strongest tree. 'All right, I will help you. Now, what do we need?
' Clive brought the toolbox and placed it on the ground. He asked Jayden to pull out one
weed near the tree." "Ah, ha, done." "Well, don't go celebrating yet. Some weeds are so deeply rooted that you
need more time and sometimes additional tools." It took hours to successfully pull out the
other two weeds pointed out by Clive, but Jayden didn't give up. "For some reason, he was the most determined today, and didn't feel lazy at all. 'All done.
It seemed difficult, but all I needed is a little patience and persistence.' 'Bravo, Jayden.
You are now ready for my gift.' 'Wait, I never told you my... Who are you?'" "'I am the Dragon of Boons. Jayden, I am here to help you defeat Inertia, Dishonesty, and
Arrogance who are commanding your life.' 'I don't understand.' 'You developed certain
harmful habits, Jayden, and over time, as you grew up, those habits became bigger than you
and commanded you.'" "'Inertia, Dishonesty, and Arrogance are the reason you are always tired and disinterested.
Wow, what do I do about it?' 'I am here to help you out, son. You pulled out these three magic
al weeds with persistence and patience. You have earned a boon.'" "'Wow! These are the three magical rings. The Ring of Honesty will help you uproot
dishonesty. The Ring of Discipline will help you uproot Inertia. And finally, the Ring of Love will help you uproot Arrogance.'" "'But remember, son, you will need the tools of patience and empathy to uproot some of them
as they are deeply rooted just like the magical weeds were. But tell me one thing. Why is it
that now I don't feel tired? I'm able to speak the truth and I don't feel arrogant while seeking
help.'" "'Ah, well, that's because I have slipped a sleeping draft to those three. They are still in your
room, sleeping most comfortably. Well, they are a little silly, well I should leave soon, for
they may wake up anytime. Remember Jaden, each time you think you are going to lose,
remember the way you pulled out the weeds in this garden and keep going. Goodbye son.'" "From that day on, Jaden was at war with the three habits. He started waking up early.
'No, you are not.' He began to go running. 'No, no, I won't let you go. You are mine. I
command you. Come on, I can do one more lap.'" "He also vowed to tell at least one truth a day, which, well, was not easy. 'Say you don't
know, you don't know. Jaden, you don't need them. You have me. I am Erika's, your best
friend.' 'Um, remember Jaden, each time you think you are going to lose, remember the way
you pulled out the weeds in this garden. And keep going.'" "'You are right. I am the one who took the baskets of muffins from outside your house. I was
really hungry. I am sorry. Why don't I buy muffins for you guys? My treat. Come on, let's go.
Huh? What?' Jaden had learned the importance of love, empathy, and persistence."
"Mother, Father, I have been so rude to both of you. I can only hope that you will forgive me.
And I promise I will do everything in my power to make myself better. 'No, you cannot say
these things. Ow!' Over time, Jaden took off the rings." "He didn't need them anymore, as he was now honest, disciplined, and humble himself. He
soon got a job and was respected by his friends. Jaden was successful and rich, but he never
forgot his friend Clive and the weeds in the garden."
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