The Odyssey Lessons

Don Williams Jr. remarkably stated, “Lessons that come easy are not lessons at all.” I had to learn the important lesson that I can not blindly trust anyone. As a child, I never doubted my family; I trusted them with my life. Big mistake. Just as Odysseus, in Homer’s famous work The Odyssey, had to recognize who was loyal to him, I had to learn who to trust and not to trust after my deceitful twin sister misled me into believing she was an ant. “Nikki, we have to talk.” Once I heard my sister’s callous voice my palms felt clammy and my brow trickled with sweat as my sister, Sam, and I sat down on my pristine bed. Sam looked down at her feet and grimaced as hard as any seven year old could. “I am an a-ant,” she said guardedly. My face had

I woke up anxious as I feared the transformation. I walked to my sister ready to announce that today was the day. “Sam, did you focus enough, are you going to turn into an ant?” I uttered rapidly. My twin assured me all was well: “I spent my time focusing, but we will soon find out.” My chest caved in as I became overwhelmed about the whole fiasco. I sat on her messy bed that I would have to tidy up soon and let hot tears stroll down my cheeks. She convinced me that tonight would not be terrible and to start on her chores. I repeated the horrible process of folding copious amounts of blankets, organizing her disheveled room, and taking out the trash. As soon as I finished, I sat down on my bed with butterflies in my stomach. Sam walked into my room lightheartedly and we chatted until the clock struck twelve. I gasped as the clock hit 12:01 and no change had occurred. Sam sensed my confusion and revealed her true plan. “I was never an ant, I just wanted you to do my chores.” said Sam in an embarrassed tone. My eyes became glossy and I was speechless. Sam, although wholesome now, acted similar to the lazy and swaggering

I drowned out logic with unyielding trust just as “Poseidon...launched a colossal wave...pounding down on him (Homer 5. 403-404.)” I became clear-headed like Telemachus and came to a realization: you should never trust people blindly and must try to recognize who is trustworthy. I went on an odyssey of my own, facing a situation to learn a hard lesson. My experience “sings for our time too (Homer 1. 12)” as I, just like Odysseus, distinguish who I can trust and who I can not on a daily basis. This experience has lessened my gullibility and positively affected my life. Not only does The Odyssey stay relevant, but the valuable lesson of seeking out trustworthy people continues to be