Feed the love wolf

In June, the high school where I teach celebrated its first graduation. It was the fourth year the school had been in existence, and the first year the school had all four classes - freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors - on campus.

At the graduation, the keynote speaker told a story called "The Two Wolves," which is Cherokee legend. This is the story:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life and says, "A fight is going on inside me."

"It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson then asks his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee replies, "The one you feed."

In other words, the advice is simple: Feed the love wolf.