We all go through times when we hope for sunny days but get rained on. We may expect things to be rosy, but reality may prove to be gloomy.
It may help to remember this: Dark clouds will eventually pass and the sky will be bright again.
There is also a Taoist parable I like to share.
The parable of the Taoist farmer
There was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said, sympathetically.
The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.
The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy for what they called his “misfortune.”
The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.
The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
It’s not about taking a fatalistic view of things; rather, it is about handling seeming local maxima and minima with equanimity. Besides, as we all know, whatever our paths may be, bumps on the road are inevitable.
I’ve taken my share of knocks in life, even if it has been a privileged life. I am grateful to be able to wake up each day with a sense of purpose, to know good health & loving relationships, to have basic needs met, and to handle what comes my way.
I wish that for others too.
Editor’s note:
With another new year approaching, here are some suggestions for a reset and a fresh start:
Add Comment