ONCE UPON A TIME...
In Japan a man and a woman lived together. They knew each other since they were little. Now they were married.
They married when they both were young. On the day of their marriage the grandfather of the woman, a wise man, gave them a small but very beautiful heirloom, a chest of drawers. It came with an advice: they should make a special vow towards one another to leave one drawer the exclusive domain of the other. They should not share nor ask for its content, nor peek. Doing so would be the end of the marriage.
They married when they both were young. On the day of their marriage the grandfather of the woman, a wise man, gave them a small but very beautiful heirloom, a chest of drawers. It came with an advice: they should make a special vow towards one another to leave one drawer the exclusive domain of the other. They should not share nor ask for its content, nor peek. Doing so would be the end of the marriage.
Years past, and both respected the vow they made. But the curiosity of the woman grew, little by little. She started to detect "things" in the behaviour of her husband. She could not put her finger on it, but there was "something". It grew to a real paranoia. But she remembered her vow and the warning of her grandfather.
At the age of 57 the man was really ill and had to stay in the town "hospital". The woman could not stay there all the time, but at home see went mad of worry. After a few days, while she was cleaning the house, the "secret drawer" crept in her mind again. This time she did not suppress the urge and opened the drawer. There was nothing in there. She checked it with her hand: nothing. Later that day she went to visit her husband. An awkward silence fell. The man noticed something was wrong.
He: What is it, honey?
She: I looked in your drawer. You know, the "secret drawer".
He: (no response)
She: There was nothing in there ?!
He: No.
She: But... ?!
He: I have no secrets from you. I love you.
She: Oh. ... I am sorry.
He: It is ok.
She: I can tell you...She went home that day. A bit embarassed.
He: No. I do no want to know. I trust you.
He passed away that evening.
COMMENT
I am not really sure whether or not there is a good way the explain the wisdom of this story, or even if I get it all. I imagine that there are some elements in there to answer questions like:
- What is the identity of a person?
- What is trust?
- Why do we need trust?
- Why is there a human urge to know what is in the "secret drawer"?
- What does the "secret drawer" represent?
- Why does everyone have a different idea of what the "secret drawer" is good for?
- Why is there (a need for) a "secret drawer", even if one does not use it?
THE POWER OF STORIES
(repetition of the intro of the series:) Stories are of all times, but lately organisational behaviorists and marketers have a renewed interest in them. DPOs have stories as well of their own experience or heared in there community. And they should use them to engage the organisation, at least to raise awareness, questions and/or discussions. Note that we keep some obscurity and that any reference to a name or situation you may know is likely to be based on coincidence. :-)CALL TO ACTION
Do you have any good stories? Can you (pseudonomised) share them? (If so, please, do.)
Stories like these probably have numerous explanations or angles: what is your take on this story?
Stories like these probably have numerous explanations or angles: what is your take on this story?
