The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy

Charlie Mackesy's quiet picture book 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse', has been my 10th of 2021, Thanks to Karthikeyan. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse may not be able to save the world's problems, but it has reminded thousands of people of the qualities that can. Love, hope, friendship and the courage of asking for help resonate deeply at a time where mental health can't be taken for granted and kindness seems out of reach. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3023z2Io0E

The four titular characters meet one another and share each other’s confidence, live with courage and kindness.  Spread your wings and follow your dreams. The story with pictures, written in cursive for all ages in unputdownable. The  boy is lonely when the mole first surfaces. They spend time, gazing into the wild. In the wandering they meet the fox who is silent, because he has been hurt by life. Horse is the biggest and gentlest. We can see us in each of them. It's spring time, there is snow and the sun, like life. 

Mole even if small can make a difference, the boy wants to be kind, when he grows up. Success is to love. If at first you don't succeed, have some cake.  Biggest waste of time, is comparing yourself to others. Listen less to your fears and more to your dreams. One of our greatest freedom is how we react to things. Be in present, focus on what you love. We can only see our outside, but nearly everything happens on the inside. Be kind to yourself. Start now. Often the hardest person to forgive is yourself. When we are with friends doing nothing, its not doing nothing. We are less scared together.  Bravest thing is to ask for help. You are strongest when you show your weakness. Asking for help is refusing to give up. Love does'nt need you to be extraordinary. We all need a reason to keep going, it could be friends, home or food. Sometimes, just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent. The greatest illusion is that life should be perfect, it needs lot of paddling. Be curious. Being honest is always interesting. Don't bother if your glass is half full or half empty, Be Thankful that you have a glass. Keep going, even when the dark cloud comes. When the big things feel out of control, focus on what you love right under your nose. This storm will pass. We have a long way to go, but look how far we have come. We are enough as we are. To love and be loved. When our heart hurts, wrap it with friendship, share tears and time, till it becomes happy and hopeful again.  You matter, you are important, your are loved, you bring to the world things no one else can. Don't measure how valuable you are by how others treat you. Home is'nt always a place. Sometime all you hear about is the hate, but there is more love in the world than you could imagine. Just take a step, horizon will look after itself.