It's a famous story originated from Aesop's Fables, from ancient Greece.
Since we had built our cities there had been a clash in typical country life with, less resources, struggles of finding enough entertainment, compared to easy going city life with wealth. However, that truly would not represent the true nature of the country life versus the city life in modern world as boundaries are less distinct nowadays as the infrastructures have brought the gap between country and the town much closer.
In the original story the town mouse who visits the country mouse was treated with simple meal of 'country cousin', followed by the invitation of the town mouse to his host for a visit to feel the 'Devine life of the city'. For which of course the country mouse agrees, and the as the story goes, the country mouse came to know the mother and the father of the town mouse were killed by an attack of the cat, and in the town, there is frequent threat of the sudden similar attacks from the cat. So, the country mouse return home with fear.
There have been different versions of the story over time, with additions and new stories built around the original. Since the original wisdom which was brought by the old story is no longer there. We tell our children that the country mouse was attacked by an owl, when he walked on the countryside to bring some horror to the country life as well. It seems our city dwelling fathers and mothers couldn't answer if the children if they asked why they are not living in the country anymore and feared they would go back in searching happiness in the country life after all.
It is true that the country life is difficult hard and monotonous, however, that is the same as everyone else. In the country the Neighbours struggle together. City life is free, opportunities are more with excitement, of course there are still poor and not so good living conditions although how much city authorities tried to hide. So, which one to choose? The city or the country?
Of course, there is no correct answer, lets imagine we have group of people who prefer city life over the country life 99% of the time. And if there are 100 people in the group, can you say the city life is better than the country life as a general statement?
We are distinct individuals and what is correct for 99% of our society may not be correct for ourselves.
So, I think it is individual decision, and not independent of time. As there are more and more examples, 99.99% of us live quite ordinary lives which were influenced by others. If it changes your life, if it changes your perspective, it is better to try both of them.
Afterall, if the country mouse stayed in the country and town mouse stayed in the town, there would have been no story for us to tell.
Thank you for reading "The town mouse and country mouse."
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