Too Much Sky - A Nigerian Folktale
A long time ago, the people of the world didn’t need to hunt, farm, or buy their food. The sky came all the way down to the ground, and people would simply take what they needed to eat. Life was simple and plentiful.
But over time, jealousy and greed crept into the hearts of the people. They began to take more sky than they needed and wasted much of it. The Sky, noticing this, gave them a warning: "If you continue to be wasteful, I will go away forever!"
Yet, the people didn’t listen. They grew greedier and more wasteful. The Sky warned them once again, but could they change their ways in time, or would they lose the gift of the sky forever?
After the story, consider these reflections and activities:
1. Go outside and spend time cloud-watching, appreciating the beautiful colors and patterns in the sky.
2. Reflect on your own consumption. Do you waste food or buy things you don’t really need? Challenge yourself for one week to create no food waste and avoid unnecessary purchases.
3. Wake up early one day to watch the sunrise and witness how the sky transforms as new light fills the world.
Let this story remind us of the importance of gratitude and mindful consumption in our everyday lives.