THE LEGEND
DO YOU LIKE STORIES TOO? I WILL TELL YOU ONE...
The legend of the white rabbit.
Life was grand in Rabbit City, where White Rabbit grew up. The majority of rabbits lived in comfortable burrows, had a well-paid job and could afford to go on holidays several times a year. Since the most beautiful carrots almost grew unaided directly into the mouths of the rabbits, they all became increasingly chubby. But it wasn't only their appearance that suffered, but also their health and with it, their quality of life. The council of rabbits therefore had every reason to intervene and take action. It arranged for so-called studios to be set up throughout the city where rabbits, after having worked, could do something to improve their health, i.e. cavort about, kick their legs, lift balls and much more. The most popular activity was zigzag, a kind of chase where the rabbit being chased tried to shake off his or her pursuer by taking abrupt changes in direction.
To start off with, the rabbits liked visiting the rabbit studios regularly. All the strenuous activities seemed to be paying off. All the rabbits had to do was look into the mirror: those unwelcome bulges gradually disappeared and the rabbits became fit and healthy again. Unfortunately, this change didn’t last for long. With time, it became tiresome for the rabbits to seek out the grey, dreary studios and subject themselves to sweaty exercises under the instruction of morose rabbit trainers. No, it was not a happy state of affairs. On the contrary, going to the studio had become so maddeningly serious that the rabbits increasingly found excuses to go to a bar instead, remaining there until the early morning hours. They started to gain weight again even more quickly than they had lost it. The old problems resurfaced. The rabbit government was at a loss as to what to do.
After much pondering, the rabbit minister for health and sport suddenly had a moment of inspiration. A beautiful white rabbit that was respectfully known as "The White Rabbit" lived in his neighbourhood. The respect shown to him by young and old was because White Rabbit not only had snow-white fur, but also a sunny disposition. He was kind and helpful to all the other rabbits. His openness was valued, his hospitality was praised and every rabbit admired his love of beautiful things. The inner beauty that the White Rabbit radiated was also expressed in an outer beauty. Or might it have been the other way around? Whatever the case, the White Rabbit seemed to have a secret recipe that made him spurn the temptations of excessive carrot consumption, the joys of immoderate drinking and the slothfulness of slouching about. And if that indeed was so, couldn't one force him, in the interests of general rabbit well-being, to disclose this recipe to the wider rabbit population? Naturally, all the representatives on the rabbit council for once agreed: White Rabbit had to be summoned immediately in order to get to the bottom of the matter.
No sooner said than done. White Rabbit seemed unperturbed at the prospect of having to appear before the rabbit council. On the contrary, he considered it a great honour that these prominent members of the animal world seemed to be taking such an interest in his lifestyle. "How is it", the inquisitor asked "that your fur glistens so wonderfully, your eyes sparkle so invitingly, your muscles are so supple and strong, even though you – as we have heard – have never visited a rabbit studio?" And as White Rabbit raised his voice to reply, all of the ministers fully straightened their ears so as not to miss a single word. "There are only three things" the rabbit started to answer, "that have become important in my rabbit life: joyousness, beauty and movement. Joyousness comes foremost; it forms the basis of my rabbit philosophy. It imbues my entire existence with a comforting light. This joyousness is nourished by beauty. I have taken great care in furnishing my rabbit apartment, lavishing attention on even the smallest details. Because beauty elevates objects. The beautiful object in turn delights the senses that perceive it. And whatever stimulates the senses, invigorates the body, putting it in its natural state. The natural state of the body is movement. And in movement, the body celebrates a festival. So serving to uphold the cycle of the joyousness of life. And that encapsulates the wisdom of my entire rabbit philosophy. It is my dictum for life and, as you can see, it has served me admirably to date."
A respectful silence prevailed in the room for a long time. The first to clear his throat was the minister for internal affairs; an elderly rabbit who was keen to seize this opportunity. "Dear White Rabbit, as you can see, your words have made a great impression on us. So much so, that it would be unthinkable for you to keep this philosophy all to yourself. Yes, I would even say that you have a moral obligation to make it more widely known. I suggest that, with our support, you open a rabbit studio in which you will pass on this spirit of joyousness, beauty and movement to each and every interested rabbit. If goes without saying that this will not be a run-of-the-mill rabbit studio. It will bear your personal, unmistakable signature. That's why you should also call it "The White Rabbit". You will see that keen rabbits will very soon be beating a path to your door."
White Rabbit would never have arrived at such a noble idea, probably being far too modest. The enthusiasm of the older rabbit had now become contagious and White Rabbit too was agog; in his rabbit's mind's eye he envisioned a beautiful, bright, wonderfully furnished room in which he would receive the first visitors with his customary gaiety and sincerity, as was his nature. It beamed back equally joyfully and sincerely, because what he had to give his visitors was not trifling: joyousness, beauty and movement. And, as if waking from a dream, he turned to the rabbit council: "Yes, I am in agreement with your suggestion. I truly will set up a studio and pass on my rabbit philosophy to all those who feel attracted by it. And I want to attest to its veracity with my name.
So, welcome to "THE WHITE RABBIT - HEALTH CLUB"!
Kind regards, James