There once was a king who wished his subjects to be happy.
But he did not know what to do.
He thought that if he gave away too much, there would not be any left for him and his own happiness.
This idea really depressed him.
He felt himself caught on the horns of a dilemma.
His duty was to his subjects.
He wanted to be a good king: to protect and defend his people, to see that their lives were as good as could be.
But his only experience had been with gold.
There seemed to be a limited supply of it.
If he gave away all his gold to assure his people's benefit, what would he have left? Yet he did not wish to be selfish.
His advisers assured him that if he gave away some of his gold, the taxes from the incomes of his people would be sufficient to replace that gold.
So he very fairly set up a program whereby his subjects gained some of the kingdom's gold.
They would put it to use in their farms and shops.
They certainly generated income from this infusion of capital.
The gross kingdom profit rose exponentially.
Yet when the tax collectors came to take a fair measure of the people's incomes, the people grumbled and mildly protested.
The king explained that such money was used to keep the army fit and ready.
To have the navy prepared for sea attack.
To keep government employees in their own incomes.
To pay for the household expenses of the king.
Still the people belly-ached.
Their disposable income was being cut by the taxes.
Nothing the king could do would relieve this carping.
His advisers said that he just ought to let the people grumble.
He was well within in right as king.
Still, the king was uneasy in his days and in his sleep.
He thought that there must be some kind of remedy.
What could he give his people wherein they would profit but have no cause to carp? What could he give away that would never be diminished by his giving.
He chanced to be riding in the country outside his capital.
He had a small retinue with him so as to attract as little attention as possible.
His groom led the party to a small but active stream to water the horses.
The king heard laughing nearby.
He motioned his retainers to stay where they were and be quiet.
The king crept toward the laughter.
There, at the stream's edge, hidden behind dense undergrowth, were a father and son, fishing.
Though it did not appear that they were taking the fishing very seriously.
They had no fish waiting on the stream bank to take home for supper.
What they did have, it was abundantly clear, was a great deal of fun and laughter between them.
The son, about age 10, splashed water at his father.
He roared with laughter and splashed back.
Soon both were soaking wet and they fell into each others arms in gales of mirth.
Both looked supremely happy.
The king had his epiphany.
He could give happiness away and never diminish his own.
Like a candle that is used to light a million other candles.
Though one candle lighted a million others, its own light and length of life was never decreased.
The king stole away from the stream-side scene and hurried back to his retainers.
His swung into his saddle with a great grin splitting his face.
He raced back to his capital as swiftly as his fine steed could carry him.
He set about spreading happiness in all the ways he could think of and all the ways his people could think of.
The kingdom prospered.
The people gave up their grumbling, though they still had taxes to pay.
No they did not all live happily ever after, life is not quite that simple.
But they all surely lived happier ever after.
Start lighting candles of happiness from your own candle of happiness - today.
You can never minimize your own in that way.
Indeed, you will increase the light in the world for all - including yourself.