Remember The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister? The most beautiful fish in the whole ocean with all the shiny, special, rainbow scales? Well even if you don't remember the whole story, the short version is:
Rainbow Fish is beautiful and admired by all.
"Average" little fish asks for just one special scale.
Rainbow Fish responds like a b*tch and tells little fish "no way!"
Word spreads and all fish hate Rainbow Fish.
Rainbow Fish does not see how they could hate someone so beautiful.
Rainbow Fish seeks advice from the wise octopus.
Wise octopus tells Rainbow Fish to share a special scale with each of the other fish.
"You will no longer be the most beautiful fish in the sea, but you will discover how to be happy," says the wise octopus.
Rainbow Fish doesn't understand.
"Average" little fish asks once again for a special scale.
Rainbow Fish decides to give little fish his smallest glitter scale, no harm in that.
Rainbow Fish sees how happy the other fish is and...FEELS GOOD?
The Rainbow Fish feels happiness himself!
All the other fish come over, and Rainbow Fish gives shimmer scales to all!
Rainbow Fish feels HAPPINESS.
All fish are happy and invite Rainbow Fish to play for the first time.
They splish and they splash and they sparkle the day away!
Just like any children's book, there's an obvious series of life lessons the readers are supposed to take away. A big part of this book was teaching kids the importance of sharing. Sharing is caring. When the Rainbow Fish acted greedy and mean toward the little fish, no one even wanted to look at him. Greediness is NOT something to strive for! Once the Rainbow Fish learns his lesson and starts sharing, just to make others feel good, he starts making friends, and he, himself, feels good!
Another lesson is that being the "best" at something or "most beautiful" is not always what's important. The only reason the rainbow fish didn't want to share his glimmer scales in the first place was because he didn't think he could be happy if he wasn't the most beautiful fish in all the sea! In the end, he finds true happiness and friendship without being the prettiest creature around. His friends like him for his giving character.
As adults, I think we forget these lessons. We are often overwhelmed with greediness or obsession over our "things". Take another look at this book, and remember, giving is important for the happiness of yourself AND others. Take some time and volunteer, donate, or give back to your community and those in need! Share your time and your privileges!
In addition to sharing your efforts, you can try to be less materialistic. Even if you don't notice it in yourself, chances are you have a lot of stuff. Stuff that you think you need in order to be happy. Your belongings may actually make you happy, and that's okay, but just keep in mind that you don't need "things" to find pure bliss. Simply being with others and partaking in fun and appreciation of each other together is all you need. This is also where being the absolute best at something/everything comes in: being the best? NOT IMPORTANT. Rainbow Fish now knows this! At one point, he questions the octopus, "Give away my scales? My beautiful shining scales? Never. How could I ever be happy without them?"
In the worry over losing his prized scales that give him his beauty, he continues to stay out of touch with the reality that the key of life is. It's not his beauty or his possessions that bring him happiness, and he realizes this the instant he gives away his first sparkling scale. Giving happiness to his new friend helps Rainbow Fish to see that these are not the things that peace of mind requires! Rainbow Fish feels a certain glimmer within himself, instead of his scales; he experiences a certain warmth.
This warmth is turned to joy when he finally learns his lessons and makes friends and enjoys the ocean life for what it is. As adults, we do tend to lose a sense of what is important in life quite easily and quite often. Rainbow fish is a great model for us to remember to not get caught up in our things or in the stress we bring upon ourselves when striving to be better than someone else. Take him and his special scales to remind yourself what it takes and how to be truly happy!
