An eagle was flying high—confident, self-assured, and in control. But out of nowhere, an arrow struck him in the chest and brought him down.
As he fell, he looked at the shaft of the arrow and noticed something unsettling—it was feathered with his own plumes. The hunter had used feathers from an eagle to kill an eagle.
And just before he hit the ground, the eagle said, “It is not the arrow that pains me, but the fact that it was winged with my own feathers.”
This simple fable carries a powerful truth: we are often hurt most deeply by the things or people closest to us—by those we trust, support, or invest in. Being attacked by a stranger can sting, but betrayal from someone you once believed in cuts differently.
The real pain isn’t just the wound—it’s knowing that your own contribution, time, or loyalty made that wound possible. You handed over the feathers.
This shows up all the time in real life. Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple—the very company he helped build. The same systems and people he developed eventually turned against him.
Julius Caesar was assassinated by men he considered allies—people he had elevated and trusted, including Brutus. His final words, “Et tu, Brute?” captured the devastation of betrayal by someone within his inner circle.
And in our own lives, we may not face political assassinations or corporate oustings, but the pattern is familiar: a friend you helped grow suddenly competes with you; a person you mentored turns on you; someone you protected uses your openness against you.
The message here is not to stop trusting, giving, or supporting others—but to become more discerning. Not everyone who praises you has your best interests at heart. Not every connection deserves deep access.
We often confuse loyalty with access and admiration with trust. But as Tupac once said, “Sometimes the person you’d take a bullet for is the one behind the gun.” And as the saying goes, “Be careful who you trust. Salt and sugar look the same.”
This fable is a quiet reminder that while generosity is noble, it must be paired with wisdom. Pay attention to the patterns, the energy, and the consistency of people. Be mindful of what you give and to whom.
Because sometimes, the most painful arrows are the ones feathered with your own wings.
Namaste
Trophy Kiprono9
An eagle was flying high—confident, self-assured, and in control. But out of nowhere, an arrow struck him in the chest and brought him down.
As he fell, he looked at the shaft of the arrow and noticed something unsettling—it was feathered with his own plumes. The hunter had used feathers from an eagle to kill an eagle.
And just before he hit the ground, the eagle said, “It is not the arrow that pains me, but the fact that it was winged with my own feathers.”
This simple fable carries a powerful truth: we are often hurt most deeply by the things or people closest to us—by those we trust, support, or invest in. Being attacked by a stranger can sting, but betrayal from someone you once believed in cuts differently.
The real pain isn’t just the wound—it’s knowing that your own contribution, time, or loyalty made that wound possible. You handed over the feathers.
This shows up all the time in real life. Steve Jobs was forced out of Apple—the very company he helped build. The same systems and people he developed eventually turned against him.
Julius Caesar was assassinated by men he considered allies—people he had elevated and trusted, including Brutus. His final words, “Et tu, Brute?” captured the devastation of betrayal by someone within his inner circle.
And in our own lives, we may not face political assassinations or corporate oustings, but the pattern is familiar: a friend you helped grow suddenly competes with you; a person you mentored turns on you; someone you protected uses your openness against you.
The message here is not to stop trusting, giving, or supporting others—but to become more discerning. Not everyone who praises you has your best interests at heart. Not every connection deserves deep access.
We often confuse loyalty with access and admiration with trust. But as Tupac once said, “Sometimes the person you’d take a bullet for is the one behind the gun.” And as the saying goes, “Be careful who you trust. Salt and sugar look the same.”
This fable is a quiet reminder that while generosity is noble, it must be paired with wisdom. Pay attention to the patterns, the energy, and the consistency of people. Be mindful of what you give and to whom.
Because sometimes, the most painful arrows are the ones feathered with your own wings.
Namaste🙏🙏
Trophy Kiprono9