Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Tortoise and the Eagle. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.
The Fable
“A Tortoise, discontented with his lowly life, and envious of the
birds he saw disporting themselves in the air, begged an Eagle to
teach him to fly. The Eagle protested that it was idle for him to
try, as nature had not provided him with wings; but the Tortoise
pressed him with entreaties and promises of treasure, insisting
that it could only be a question of learning the craft of the air.
So at length the Eagle consented to do the best he could for him,
and picked him up in his talons. Soaring with him to a great height
in the sky he then let him go, and the wretched Tortoise fell
headlong and was dashed to pieces on a rock.”
Note: Knowing ones’ self is tough to do. Aristotle framed it this way, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” When we know ourselves we can set boundaries. We can say, “I am this.” Or, “I am not this.” When we know ourselves it becomes easier to make decisions. We make decisions based on a solid foundation. For me, I knew I was born to love my wife and family. Everything else either supported that or I let it go. My wife is no longer here, but I have no regrets because I knew what I was born to do.