Thinking Out Loud ~ Actions Count – A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Boasting Traveler. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Man once went abroad on his travels, and when he came home he

had wonderful tales to tell of the things he had done in foreign

countries. Among other things, he said he had taken part in a

jumping-match at Rhodes, and had done a wonderful jump which no one

could beat. “Just go to Rhodes and ask them,” he said; “every one

will tell you it’s true.” But one of those who were listening said,

“If you can jump as well as all that, we needn’t go to Rhodes to

prove it. Let’s just imagine this is Rhodes for a minute: and

now—jump!”

Note: Actions count. Words not so much. I tire quickly when I am in the company of someone who tells how great he/she is or how I should act. They will brag of their successes and share their contempt for anyone who stood in their way. They will encourage me to be more like them and less like me. I quit listening ten seconds into their sermon and contemplate how to exit the situation. When we are sure of who we are, there is no need to boast. We let our actions do all the talking that needs to be done.