The Mountain Doctor: A Lesson On Self Worth

There was once a doctor who lived high up in a mountain hut. He was so popular and such a good doctor that he had to make it more difficult for people to come and visit him otherwise he would get overwhelmed.

One dark evening, as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, a young boy who was about 12 years old came to visit him. He had spent 3 days climbing the mountain to get to him.

He had fallen a few times and had bloody hands and knees. He limped to the doctors hut and knocked on the door. The doctor was eating his dinner and so ignored the knock on the door.

The boy was about to knock again but then decided that he would just wait outside. The doctor had worked hard all day and so he took his time eating his dinner.

He was waiting for another knock but it never came. He wondered if it was just the wind but deep down, he knew someone was out there in need of his help.

Still, he paused before sighing deeply with annoyance and tiredness and got up to open the door. He saw the boy fast asleep just outside his door. Curled up in the fetal position.

He noticed his bloody hands and knees and decided to dress them while the boy slept. The boy didn't stir he was so exhausted. The doctor got a blanket and put it over the boy and left him to sleep.

Early the next morning, the boy awoke. He was surprised to find a blanket over him and even more surprised to discover his hands and knees and some type of dressing on them.

He wanted to knock on the door of the doctor, but again he felt uneasy. He suspected the doctor was still sleeping. And so he decided to wait once more. He fell asleep again.

His body hurt and he was quite unwell. Despite the blanket, it was very cold outside high up on the mountain. He began to shiver and shake and suffer. Everything was so hard for him.

He had spent days climbing up the mountain and now here he was, still suffering even though he had reached his destination. Finally the doctor opened his door and saw the young boy, shivering and shaking.

He told him to come inside and asked him why he didn't knock on the door in the morning. The boy explained that he didn't want to disturb the doctor, because he was probably sleeping and it was very early.

“And what about last night”, asked the doctor.
”It was very late and I didn't want to disturb you”, replied the boy. The doctor thought for a moment and said, “so it was too late last night and too early this morning”.

“When where you going to knock?”
The boy replied that he was waiting for the perfect time. And when the doctor asked when that was, the boy shrugged his shoulders for he didn't know.

“What if you had died out here waiting for the perfect time”, quizzed the doctor. The boy shrugged again and said, then I wouldn't need to see you anymore.

“But you have come a long way to come and see me and you have climbed up a high mountain”, replied the doctor. The boy just looked sad and despondent. So, the doctor continued, “what is wrong with you?”

The boy shrugged and looked at the ground. “I am bullied by others and I always feel sad and lonely.”
The doctor nodded thoughtfully. “But can you see how much suffering you are putting yourself through and then still not getting what you came for?”

“Yes, but at least I am finally talking to you”, replied the boy.
So, the doctor said, “if I told you to leave and go back home, would you do this?
”Yes of course”, said the boy.
”But, I have not cured you?” the doctor replied.

“Perhaps”, the boy sighed, “I am not curable.”
”You are absolutely curable”, said the doctor. “Do you not see how you are acting and what you are doing to yourself.”

“You are deliberately choosing to suffer and then you don't feel good enough about yourself and so you won't even knock on my door for fear of disturbing me. You do not feel worthy of my help?”

“And yet, you came all this way. My boy, you have made up many stories in your head that are simply not true. You have decided you have to suffer to get what you want.”

“And yet, you feel unworthy the closer you get. You feel powerless and yet, you climbed a mountain to get here. You feel unworthy and yet when you fell, you got back up and kept going.”

“Do you not see all these qualities within you. Do you see, that you made up stories in your head but in reality, you are strong, determined and resilient.”

“Boys older than you, do not have your strength and determination. Always remember how you climbed up this mountain to get help. How you fell and yet continued.”

“Your powerlessness is just a made up, untrue story. There is nothing wrong with you but the need to change your mindset and remember who you really are.”

“Always remember this journey you made and our conversation whenever you are tempted to make up a story that you are unworthy, powerless or weak. Embrace your true self.”