As the sun went down over the bustling city of Agrabah, Aladdin sat gazing at the stars from his balcony, lost in thought. After all, he had everything he could ever wish for – a beautiful wife, a magic carpet, and perhaps most importantly, his loyal Genie.
But as he looked out over the city, Aladdin pondered on a question that had been nagging at him for a while now – what was the use of all his wishes if he wasn’t any happier? Sure, the palace was grand, and he had all the riches he could ever want, but why did he still feel like something was amiss?
As if on cue, Genie appeared in a cloud of smoke, noticing the concerned look on his master’s face.
“Is everything okay, Al?” he asked.
“I don’t know, Genie,” Aladdin replied. “Sometimes, I feel like I have everything I could possibly want, but then I feel like there’s something missing.”
Genie nodded sympathetically, understanding exactly what Aladdin meant. After all, as a centuries-old wish-granting genie, he had seen many people made their wishes and then realized it wasn’t all they thought it would be.
“Al, the thing is, as great as wishes are, they’re not the answer to all of life’s problems,” Genie explained.
“What do you mean?” Aladdin asked, perplexed.
“You’re still young, Al. Wishes can bring you temporary happiness, but true fulfillment comes from within yourself,” Genie continued. “Remember, sometimes the best wishes are the ones you don’t make at all.”
As Genie departed with a quiet poof, Aladdin sat deep in thought, contemplating the wise words his Genie had just spoken.
As he watched the stars again, Aladdin remembered a similar conversation with Rafiki- the wise old baboon- way back when he was a young street rat. Rafiki had told him that the key to finding happiness and fulfillment was by looking for it within oneself, rather than in material things.
It wasn’t just Rafiki who had imparted this wisdom to Aladdin – he had also heard it from Pocahontas, who had taught him the importance of listening to his heart and respecting nature, and from Mulan, who had shown him that sometimes, the greatest rewards come from facing one’s fears and fighting for what they believe in.
Over the years, Aladdin had learned the importance of seeking wise counsel and finding inspiration in the experiences of others. In the end, wise decision-making was not only about age and experience but rather about one’s willingness to look beyond oneself and to grow as an individual.
It was a lesson that he was hoping to pass on to his own children, who would one day face the same trials and tribulations as he did, but hopefully, with a little more wisdom.
“I should have listened to you, Rafiki,” he murmured to himself, “I should have listened…”
Just then, Jasmine appeared on the balcony, noticing the pensive look on Aladdin’s face.
“Is everything alright, Aladdin?” she asked.
Aladdin looked at his wife, taking in her exquisite beauty and the unconditional love she had for him.
“Jasmine, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, taking her hand in his.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the wishes I’ve made, and I’ve come to realize that true happiness and fulfillment come from within oneself, not from having everything you desire.”
Jasmine smiled, understanding exactly what Aladdin meant. She too had faced a similar struggle, one that had involved proving herself to be more than just a pretty face.
“You’re right, Aladdin. It’s not about what you have; it’s about who you are and who you choose to be,” she replied, planting a gentle kiss on his lips.
As they embraced, Aladdin felt a sense of peace and fulfillment washing over him. And as he looked out over the city again, he realized that he didn’t need a wish to be happy. No, all he needed was right there with him – his loving wife, his loyal Genie, and a sense of wisdom that had come through years of growing and learning from life’s experiences.
Aladdin realizes that true fulfillment comes from within oneself rather than material possessions, learning from wise counsel and life experiences. He shares this wisdom with his wife, finding peace and fulfillment in their love.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts” – Marcus Aurelius.
