What If a Mirror Could Speak?

An old man often stood before a mirror, lost in thought. A young man next door found this puzzling. Why does he keep staring at his reflection? What's so special about that mirror? Unable to resist his curiosity, he approached the old man.

"Sir, may I ask you something?"

"Of course," the old man replied.

"You keep looking into this mirror. What do you see?"

"When I look, I see my face. When you look, you see yours."

"So, it's just an ordinary mirror?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you keep staring at it?"

The old man smiled. "Because this mirror teaches valuable lessons."

"Lessons? What can a mirror teach?"

The old man explained: "A mirror shows your face exactly as it is. If there’s dirt, it doesn’t hide or exaggerate—it simply reflects. Similarly, when we point out someone's mistakes, we should do so truthfully—neither magnifying nor minimizing them. That’s the first lesson."

The young man nodded. "And the second?"

"A mirror only reveals your flaws when you stand before it. The moment you step away, it stays silent. Likewise, we should correct people directly, not gossip behind their backs. Speaking about someone’s mistakes when they aren't around helps no one."

The young man thought for a moment. "And the third?"

"If a mirror shows a stain on your face, do you get angry at it?"

"No, I just clean my face."

"Exactly. When someone points out our flaws, we shouldn’t be upset with them. Instead, we should be grateful and improve ourselves."

The young man smiled. "I never knew a simple mirror could teach such wisdom. Thank you, sir."

The old man nodded. "Wisdom is everywhere—if we choose to see it."

As the young man walked away, he glanced at his reflection—not just to see himself, but to remember the lesson.

Like a mirror, we should be honest and fair in pointing out flaws, address issues directly, and welcome feedback without anger. After all, the true purpose of reflection—both in mirrors and in life—is not to shame or blame but to help us grow.

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