Willpower.

One day, a man was sitting on the bench in the park. He was holding a metal spoon, and staring at it.

Then, another man came by and saw this. Curiously, he approached the man at the bench, and asked, "What are you doing?"

He replied, "I am training my willpower, such that I can bend this spoon with my willpower alone."

"How long have you been at this?"

"A few days already, but nothing seems to change. This means I do not have enough willpower. I have to devote more time and effort to it."

After listening, the other man smacked his forehead with his palm in disgust. He said indignantly, "Hey, let me show you what willpower REALLY is." Having said that, he took the spoon away, bent the spoon with his two hands, then handed it back to him.

"THAT, is willpower." He said with a tinge of frustration, before leaving to mind his own business.

The man at the bench stared at the bent spoon, looking a little confused. Then, a wave of epiphany struck him. He beamed at this new understanding, and happily left the bench to mind his own business too, leaving the spoon behind.

Just like the one standing right in front of you

Jane is a celebrity. A very famous celebrity. Everyone knows her.

However, Jane got sick of her high life and decided to leave the show business for further studies, hopefully to get some peace back into her life, as well as return to her delayed interest in English literature. Fortunately, she enrolled into a local university with her almost expired but sterling A level results from 7 years ago.

She hasn't got used to the school environment yet, since lessons started a week ago. She has trouble navigating the large school compound. She has difficulties adapting to the less than desirable quality of food in canteens. She also has difficulties using the photocopying machine when she needs to copy her notes from library books.

People around her are helpful though. Hand drawn maps are given to her to help find the classrooms. Suggestions to various superior food places are offered to her readily. And photocopying cards are lent to her upon request when she has trouble getting them. Of course, she was a celebrity after all.

With all these help, it is not surprising that she is able to pick up on her academics fairly readily even after a seven-year hiatus, as compared to a two-year one by other guys.

Then again, some problems do not have straightforward solutions. Annoying guys for example, who have the audacity to try to pick her up during lunch times. Irritating girls are another, who cannot stop acting nice in front of her, yet gossip behind her back. But she shrugs these problems off, keeping in mind that these people are much milder than those in the show business. Troublesome, but a still manageable price to pay towards achieve normality, she thought.

But little does she realise the true price of normality.

In a few days time, she will encounter problems using the photocopying machine again. The papers will jam and cause her to be panicky. Then a decent looking nice guy will notice her plight, and approach to help with the paper jam, with a blueberry jam sandwich in his pocket. He will carefully open the machine casing, where the paper will be stuck, and slowly but firmly pull out the remains. He will fix the dislodged screw that caused the jam too. And during the process, he will have a small conversation with her, while chewing on his sandwich.

He will ask, “I am curious about something. How do you feel when people around you treat you so differently, just because you are famous? How is it different from the people who knew you before you are famous? Does it mean that you will not find new true friends here?”

She will reply, “Well, I am not very sure about seeking new true friends but, I am sure I will figure something out.”

Then, he will say, “There are many good people in this school, as well as not-so-good people. You know what do I mean by not-so-good people? Those who have ulterior designs about you. Those who will stop at NOTHING to get their hands on you. And those who will watch your every action, from the distance, every single minute. Just like the one standing right in front of you.” He will have closed the machine casing after that.

“Oh, okay, thanks for your warning.” She will say awkwardly, before realising what that decent looking nice guy's last sentence means.

By then he will be walking away, snickering.