Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud ~ You Will Overcome the Struggle

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Lewis Carroll’s work, Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is available for free download from Project Gutenberg here.

“Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of

time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen

next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and

noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there

she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the

shelves as she passed; it was labelled “ORANGE MARMALADE”, but to

her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for

fear of killing somebody underneath, so managed to put it into one of the

cupboards as she fell past it.”

Note: Poor Alice. She didn’t know where she was going. It was too dark to see her way. And, when she thought she found something, it was of no help. How often have you felt the same way when embarking on a new adventure? I know I’ve felt lost and questioned my wisdom for choosing a journey. I discovered by toughing it out, answers begin to form, and confidence build with every small success. If we stop and look back on our journey we’ll see that we overcame the darkness.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Make Your Dream an Adventure

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Lewis Carroll’s work, Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is available for free download from Project Gutenberg here.

“There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so

very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, “Oh

dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” (when she thought it over afterwards, it

occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all

seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its

waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to

her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a

rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and

burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was

just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.”

Note: I like this opening to Alice in Wonderland. Alice chases the rabbit and goes down the rabbit hole without hesitation. That’s how we should chase our dreams. We should go after them without hesitation. We should be thinking of chasing our dreams as an adventure. If our dream is worth thinking about, our dreams are worth pursuing. No looking back. No fear. Plunge ahead with full speed.

Thinking Out Loud – Let Go of Anger & Resentment

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Farmer and the Fox. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Farmer was greatly annoyed by a Fox, which came prowling about

his yard at night and carried off his fowls. So he set a trap for

him and caught him; and in order to be revenged upon him, he tied a

bunch of tow to his tail and set fire to it and let him go. As

ill-luck would have it, however, the Fox made straight for the

fields where the corn was standing ripe and ready for cutting. It

quickly caught fire and was all burnt up, and the Farmer lost all

his harvest.”

Note: Getting even is a strategy that hurts the person seeking revenge as much as it hurts the person on the receiving end of the revenge seeker’s anger. Holding on to past hurts creates a field where resentments fester and often spill over into harmful actions. The field produces an array of harmful emotions and physical problems. Letting go of past hurts and resentments leads to a more peaceful and happy life.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Work Hard and Never Give Up

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Mouse and the Bull. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Bull gave chase to a Mouse which had bitten him in the nose:

but the Mouse was too quick for him and slipped into a hole in a

wall. The Bull charged furiously into the wall again and again

until he was tired out, and sank down on the ground exhausted with

his efforts. When all was quiet, the Mouse darted out and bit him

again. Beside himself with rage he started to his feet, but by that

time the Mouse was back in his hole again, and he could do nothing

but bellow and fume in helpless anger. Presently he heard a shrill

little voice say from inside the wall, “You big fellows don’t

always have it your own way, you see: sometimes we little ones come

off best.”

Note: The lesson is clear. Never quit. Never give up. I didn’t graduate near the top of my high school class. I didn’t graduate from college with honors – I was happy to graduate, LOL. I learned to keep my head down and keep working. I discovered the harder I worked the more success I had. Success didn’t come easy, but it came. I discovered I could outwork those with more innate talent and it made all the difference. Like the mouse in the fable, we may not have been born with all the gifts that some have, but with wisdom and hard work, we’ll succeed. Never quit, never give up. Your best days are ahead.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Listen to the Voice of Wisdom

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Wolf and the Sheep. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Wolf was worried and badly bitten by dogs, and lay a long time

for dead. By and by he began to revive, and, feeling very hungry,

called out to a passing Sheep and said, “Would you kindly bring me

some water from the stream close by? I can manage about meat, if

only I could get something to drink.” But this Sheep was no fool.

“I can quite understand”, said he, “that if I brought you the

water, you would have no difficulty about the meat.”

Note: Most people I know have been taken in by the cunning words of someone who was not as kind as they purported to be. It hurts when we discover that someone we trusted, betrayed us. It’s happened to me. I tend to trust. My wife was more careful. I recall two specific incidence where she told me not to trust someone. I asked her why. She’d simply say, ‘His eyes don’t match his smile.’ She was right. I didn’t take her advice the first time and carry the scars. The second time I listened, and it made all the difference. You may have to work with folks whom you can’t trust, but keep your guard up, they’re very good at deception.

Thinking Out Loud ~ We’re Better Together. A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Lion and The Three Bulls. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“Three Bulls were grazing in a meadow, and were watched by a

Lion, who longed to capture and devour them, but who felt that he

was no match for the three so long as they kept together. So he

began by false whispers and malicious hints to foment jealousies

and distrust among them. This stratagem succeeded so well that ere

long the Bulls grew cold and unfriendly, and finally avoided each

other and fed each one by himself apart. No sooner did the Lion see

this than he fell upon them one by one and killed them in turn.”

Note: Disputes happen. If we’re not careful we can let an angry word drive us apart. I’ve witnessed good friends stop speaking because of some foolish event. I’ve seen families split apart because there was no forgiveness. I’ve seen people protect their grudges with more strength than they would protect a loved one. It doesn’t make sense of many levels. To my way of thinking peace is better than war. Love is better than hate. Forgiveness is better than holding tightly to a grudge. We’re better together and the more we are together and expand our circles, the better we’ll be.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables About Courage

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Fox and the Lion. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Fox who had never seen a Lion one day met one, and was so

terrified at the sight of him that he was ready to die with fear.

After a time he met him again, and was still rather frightened, but

not nearly so much as he had been when he met him first. But when

he saw him for the third time he was so far from being afraid that

he went up to him and began to talk to him as if he had known him

all his life.”

Note: Our parents, neighbors, culture, and friends often unknowingly pass on biases to us. We learn early on to fear, dislike, or even hate those who are different from us. They may worship differently, they may talk differently, they may have a different skin color. The list goes on, we learned that being different from us is dangerous. If we have courage, we dare to move into a space that allows us to enter a dialogue with those who are different from us. If we’re patient we learn that most differences are superficialities. We learn that we share similar human experiences. We discover we desire the same things. Those who remain blinded by their biases miss out on beauty of our world and the wonderful gifts people whom we initially viewed as different from us bring to us.

Thinking Out Loud ~ A Lesson from Aesop’s Fables

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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.

Thinking Out Loud ~ There are Multiple Perspectives

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Man and the Lion. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A Man and a Lion were companions on a journey, and in the course

of conversation they began to boast about their prowess, and each

claimed to be superior to the other in strength and courage. They

were still arguing with some heat when they came to a cross-road

where there was a statue of a Man strangling a Lion. “There!” said

the Man triumphantly, “look at that! Doesn’t that prove to you that

we are stronger than you?” “Not so fast, my friend,” said the Lion:

“that is only your view of the case. If we Lions could make

statues, you may be sure that in most of them you would see the Man

underneath.”

Note: My life would be much easier if everyone saw things the way I see them. It would also be boring if that were the case. In most cases there is my way, your way, and if we want to grow, a better way. Discovering the better way requires large doses of courage and humility mixed in equal proportions. Discovering a better way requires hard work and patience. A better way doesn’t appear by magic. It takes honest conversation and an openness to the insights that emerge from honest conversations. The man and the lion each saw the world from their perspective. They didn’t see the whole world, only the slice they wanted to see.

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