The Elephant, the Frog, and the Donkey

I just listened to this story at my sons classroom and it was so simple but impactful. I’d never heard it before but it reminded me of our real estate world… 

The Elephant, the Frog, and the Donkey

The Road to Nowhere

An elephant, a frog, and a donkey were walking down a long, dusty road. None of them knew where it led, but they kept moving because they assumed the others did.

The elephant, wise and strong, thought, The frog is small and quick—surely, she’s seen the end of this road and knows where it goes.

The frog, nimble and sharp, thought, The donkey is steady and determined—he wouldn’t be walking unless he was certain of the destination.

The donkey, patient and persistent, thought, The elephant is wise—he must know something I don’t.

Days turned into weeks, and the road stretched endlessly. They grew tired, frustrated, and doubtful, but none of them spoke up. Each feared looking foolish by admitting they didn’t know where they were going.

Finally, the frog stopped. “Why are we even on this road?” she asked. The donkey paused and replied, “I thought the elephant knew.” The elephant lowered his head and said, “I thought the frog did.”

They stood in silence, realizing none of them had ever questioned their path.

Just then, the frog noticed a beautiful pond shimmering in the distance, just off the road. “I see water!” she exclaimed.

The donkey, scanning the horizon, spotted lush grass nearby. “And food!” he said.

The elephant looked up and saw a wide, shady tree. “And rest,” he added.

Together, they left the road to nowhere and found what they truly needed—right where they were.

The Lesson:

Sometimes, we follow paths because we assume others know better. But true direction comes when we pause, question, and pay attention to what we really need. Empathy begins with understanding ourselves—and sharing that truth with others.