Life is Flux & The Parable of the Farmer and His Horse
Hope everyone has had a great January. Tiffany and I just returned from a short trip to Mexico to celebrate a friend’s wedding (congrats An & Mike!) where our diet consisted exclusively of tacos and tequila (Tiff abstained). As much as I love both of those things, it was another lesson that you can have too much of a good thing.
For anyone looking for a tropical getaway, we couldn’t recommend Sayulita, Mexico enough. The beaches were gorgeous and vibes immaculate. Here are a few pics from our trip:
Best of all, neither of us got sick afterwards which feels like a win whenever you come back from Mexico.
Now with our Japan and Mexico trips in the rearview, it feels like 2024 is beginning in earnest. While the year is still in its early innings, it already feels like one of major change. Julian’s baby sister is due in two short months. The company I’ve spent 10 years at was just acquired. Bill Belichick is no longer the coach of the New England Patriots.
Times are changing! You can either resist it or embrace it.
Life is Flux
One of the biggest changes for us this recently has been Julian starting school. This time last year he could barely turn over on his back but now he’s walking around by himself with his cute school-issued backpack and playing with his new friends every day. Look at this little guy:
It’s amazing how much can change in 12 months. That’s true for children as well as us adults. The person you will be at the end of this year is guaranteed to be different than the one that started the year.
The prospect of change can be frightening. We like to think we know where our life is headed and what kind of person we’ll become. But at the end of the day, that’s all an illusion. You never really know where life is going to take you.
As Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said: “life is flux”. Change is just a fundamental aspect of life.
Even though you might know the final destination, you are still in control of where you’re headed. You control it by intentionally spending your time, the daily habits you build, and how you respond to the inevitable ups and downs you’ll face.
It’s impossible to predict what will happen in the ~340 days remaining in 2024. Some will be within your control but much of it outside. Some will be truly important and others you won’t even remember the next day. Remember to focus on the things in the middle – the ones that matter and you can control.
Positive actions towards those items will always lead to positive results. They might not be immediate but you aren’t looking for immediate, you’re doing it for the person you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.
The Parable of the Farmer and His Horse
Made with Adobe Firefly
There’s an old Chinese proverb about a farmer and his horse that teaches us how to respond to the curveballs that life throws at you.
A long time ago an old farmer had a beautiful white horse. One day the farmer’s horse escaped from its stable and all the neighbors came to offer their sympathies noting what terrible luck had struck the farmer.
The farmer said… “maybe”.
The next day, the horse returned with a herd of wild horses. This time, the neighbors came to congratulate the farmer on his good fortune.
The farmer said… “maybe”.
The next day, the farmer’s son was thrown off one of the wild horses trying to tame it and broke his leg. The neighbors returned to offer their support around the bad news.
The farmer said… “maybe”.
The next day (busy week for the farmer!), the emperor declared war and ordered all healthy men to fight. Because of the son’s broken leg, he was spared from service. The neighbors were back again exclaiming the farmer and his son’s amazing fortune.
The farmer said… “maybe”.
The lesson – Nothing is ever as good or bad as they appear. What seems like the worst thing in the world may end up being the best thing that’s ever happened to you and vice versa.
The initial inclination to label things as good, bad, positive, negative, etc. will only trigger emotions that affect your judgment, decision-making, and actions.
These emotions are always fleeting – a few minutes, hours, or maybe a few days. Whatever it is, it will eventually pass. Give yourself the required time and space to adapt and for things to play out instead of getting caught up in the moment.
Having that perspective helps manage any major life change or challenge that you’ll face. When you start looking at any challenge for what it is - a temporary speed bump in the long journey of life, you stop fighting so hard against it, and can learn to accept it.
Looking forward is always better than grasping onto the past. Who knows… you may end up liking it more over there anyway.
If not, don’t worry. It’ll change soon enough.