Long ago in Britain, there was a legendary king named Arthur, the beloved leader of the Knights of the Round Table. One day, King Arthur was captured by his enemies and faced the threat of execution. However, the opposing king admired Arthur’s bravery and offered him a chance to win his freedom by answering a difficult question: “What do women truly desire?”
King Arthur consulted various people, including princesses, priests, and wise men, but none could provide a satisfactory answer. Someone then suggested that an old witch might know the answer, though her price would be high and unusual. Desperate, Arthur sought her out, and she agreed to help on one condition: His loyal friend Sir Gawain must marry her. Sir Gawain was not only King Arthur’s closest friend, but also one of the noblest knights, known for his handsome appearance and valor.
A selfless decision
King Arthur was horrified by the proposal, as the witch was old and ugly, and emitted a foul odor, while Gawain was everything she was not. Arthur couldn’t bear the thought of his friend marrying her just to save him. However, when Gawain learned of the situation, he willingly agreed to the marriage for the sake of Arthur and their kingdom. The witch then revealed the answer: “What women truly desire is to control their own destiny.” With this, King Arthur gained his freedom.
A surprising transformation
On their wedding night, the witch transformed into a beautiful woman. She explained to Gawain that she could be beautiful for half of the day and her old self for the other half. She asked him whether he would prefer her to be beautiful by day or by night. Recalling her words about women’s desire for self-determination, Gawain told her: “Since you said that women want to control their own destiny, you should decide for yourself.” Moved by his respect for her autonomy, she chose to remain beautiful both day and night.
Gawain’s kindness and respect for his wife’s choices brought out the best in her. True happiness, the story suggests, comes from wishing well for others and respecting their decisions. When people feel respected and happy, they reveal their best selves, creating a cycle of mutual happiness.
The science of positive influence
Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto studied water and its crystals, discovering that water exposed to positive words and sounds formed beautiful crystals, while water subjected to negative words and sounds formed ugly ones. This finding suggests that everything in the universe responds positively to goodness and negatively to evil. If we want to experience positive emotions from others, we should start by offering them a genuine, uncalculated smile.
This story of King Arthur and the witch teaches us that respect, kindness, and allowing others to determine their own paths lead to true happiness. Just as Gawain’s respect transformed the witch into a beautiful woman, our positive actions and attitudes can bring out the best in those around us, creating a more harmonious world.
Translated by Katy Liu
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