Oh, solitude, where is the sting,
That men ascribe to thee?
Where is the terror in thy mien?
I look, but cannot see.
Where hidest thou, that loneliness
The world pretends to fear?
While lying on thy loving breast
I find my sweetest cheer.
They do not understand thee, no,
They are but knaves or fools,
Or else they must discern in thee
Dame Nature’s queen of schools.
For in thy care, with naught but books,
The bards and saints of old,
Become my friends and to mine ear
Their mystic truths unfold.
When problems and perplexities
Of life becloud my mind,
I know in thee, oh, solitude,
The answer I can find.
When grief and sorrow crowd my heart
To breaking, with their fears
Within thy arms, oh, solitude,
I find relief in tears.
And when I weary of the world’s
Deceits and cares and strife,
I find in thee sweet rest and peace
And vigorous new life.
My garden never is complete
Without a blooming rose,
Nor is my life, oh, solitude,
Without thy sweet repose.
Joe: “My girlfriend and I got into an argument over who was stronger.”
Pete: “What did you say?”
Joe: “I said, “Yah? My password is stronger than your password.”
I can be impatient, especially when I know I’m right and everyone else is wrong – yikes, that’s a self admission. When we let go of having to be right and inflexible and choose to watch how things play out, we gain perspective and a greater sense of peace. If you get stuck in the loop of having to be right, imagine yourself at a ball game. Sure, you’re rooting for your team, but your also watching the game play out.
Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Dog and Sow. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.
The Fable
“A Dog and a Sow were arguing and each claimed that its own young
ones were finer than those of any other animal. “Well,” said the
Sow at last, “mine can see, at any rate, when they come into the
world: but yours are born blind.”
Note: I’ve observed arguments between intelligent people who both claim to be right. I noticed when they were arguing there was plenty of room to compromise, yet they couldn’t. They refused to see where they did agree and only could see where they disagreed. Because of their high intelligence they kept making their point and showing where the other was weaker. And this went on and on. Finally, the meeting would end with nothing resolved; they would pick up where they left off at the next meeting. Does this make sense? It doesn’t to me. Yet it happens all the time. It happens in our relationships and in our work life. When we ask ourselves a better questions such as where we agree, or, how can we move forward and resolve this issue Will lead to better results and more peaceful relationships.
Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Bat and the Weasels. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.
The Fable
“A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel, and was
just going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go. The
Weasel said he couldn’t do that because he was an enemy of all
birds on principle. “Oh, but,” said the Bat, “I’m not a bird at
all: I’m a mouse.” “So you are,” said the Weasel, “now I come to
look at you”; and he let it go. Some time after this the Bat was
caught in just the same way by another Weasel, and, as before,
begged for its life. “No,” said the Weasel, “I never let a mouse go
by any chance.” “But I’m not a mouse,” said the Bat; “I’m a bird.”
“Why, so you are,” said the Weasel; and he too let the Bat go.”
Note: It’s wise to collect data before making a decision. We do that when we are buying a car or other expensive items. We’ll read reviews of the product and of the vendor. Then we make our decision. It’s also wise to collect data before judging other people. We don’t know another person’s experience, or even know who the person is. There’s a lot about ourselves that we don’t know. It’s better to wait and collect data before we say something that we will regret. When we use our intellect to guide our emotions we make better decisions and judgments.
Joe: “I told my girlfriend she wasn’t cut out to be a mime.”
Pete: “What did she say?”
Joe: “She said, “Was it something I said?”
