Inle Lake boat boy captainThis boy of 13 years, Sin Ko Ko Oo, operates his father's long tail boat bringing tourists around Inle Lake. After almost a month of non-stop early morning ferrying for the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, his father, half asleep from fatigue at the bow, handed him control of the boat.

This is a story I received from a kind soul at the turn of the year, which I thought worthwhile to share.
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A man was hired to paint a boat.
While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it. When he finished, he received his payment and left.
The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a cheque for an amount much higher than the earlier payment. The painter was surprised and said "You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!"
"But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat." The owner replied.
"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant."
"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing. Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed."
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You never know, small good deeds may have significant consequences.
As we count our blessings for our many "leaks" repaired by others, here's to forging ahead in 2017 and putting out into the deep!
(If anyone knows the original writer of this story, please let me know.)
Photo by Richard W J Koh, @amaranthinephotos, www.amaranthine.photos
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