A woman deeply regretted hurting her best friend with thoughtless words. To undo the harm, she sought advice from a wise elder in her village.
The elder, sensing her distress, gave her a task: "Before sunrise, place a single feather from your best pillow on the doorstep of every house in town."
Though the pillows were precious, the woman labored all night in the cold, completing the chore just as dawn broke.
"Now," said the wise woman, "go back and collect all the feathers to refill your pillow. Then all will be as it was."
"That's impossible!" the young woman exclaimed. "The wind blew each feather away as soon as I put it down."
"Exactly," replied the elder. "Remember, your words are like feathers in the wind. Once spoken, no effort can bring them back. Choose your words carefully, especially in the presence of those you love."