thinking out loud

Thinking Out Loud ~ The North Wind and the Sun ~ Wisdom from Aesop’s Fables

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, North Wind and the Sun. Aesop’s Fables is available for free download here.

The Fable

“A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each

claiming that he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed

to try their powers upon a traveler, to see which could soonest

strip him of his cloak. The North Wind had the first try; and,

gathering up all his force for the attack, he came whirling

furiously down upon the man, and caught up his cloak as though he

would wrest it from him by one single effort: but the harder he

blew, the more closely the man wrapped it round himself. Then came

the turn of the Sun. At first he beamed gently upon the traveler,

who soon unclasped his cloak and walked on with it hanging loosely

about his shoulders: then he shone forth in his full strength, and

the man, before he had gone many steps, was glad to throw his cloak

right off and complete his journey more lightly clad.”

 

Note: We see it all around us. It doesn’t matter where we live. Many believe in the myth that power is better than gentle persuasion. Force may require physical compliance, but it never captures or converts the heart. St. Francis of Assisi said that the best sermons were those preached through one’s actions. Our lives matter and how we act takes on great significance when we realize others are watching us to see if the words we speak align with the actions we take.

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

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

The Fable

“Some mischievous Boys were playing on the edge of a pond, and,

catching sight of some Frogs swimming about in the shallow water,

they began to amuse themselves by pelting them with stones, and

they killed several of them. At last one of the Frogs put his head

out of the water and said, “Oh, stop! stop! I beg of you: what is

sport to you is death to us.”

 

Note: When I read this fable I thought about how I could apply it to contemporary society. The thoughts streamed through my mind. I thought about people racing down the road where the speed limit is 40 miles an hour. They’re traveling at 70  miles per hour. There are consequences to everything we do. What’s a game to them but it could be a death trap for people trying to obey the law. What about people who use social media to bully others, make fun of others, and disrespect others? What’s fun to them really hurts other people. It’s good to look at what we do and reflect on it. When we do something that hurts others it’s also hurting us as well; we may not realize it but it does. I like the saying treat other people as you would like to be treated.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Don’t Give Up – A Message in Aesop’s Fable

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Don’t Give Up – Don’t Ever Give Up

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

The Fable

 

“A thirsty Crow found a Pitcher with some water in it, but so

little was there that, try as she might, she could not reach it

with her beak, and it seemed as though she would die of thirst

within sight of the remedy. At last she hit upon a clever plan. She

began dropping pebbles into the Pitcher, and with each pebble the

water rose a little higher until at last it reached the brim, and

the knowing bird was enabled to quench her thirst.”

 

Note: I enjoyed this fable. The crow didn’t give up. The crow discovered a workaround. When we’re confronted with challenges, there is a temptation to give up. Some inner voice speaks to us and tell us it is not worth the effort. Or, the inner voice tells us that it is impossible. When our inner voice gives us negative appraisals it is deceiving us. Our challenge may be daunting, but if we continue to endure and not give up, we have a chance. We may succeed or we may discover something more vital on the journey. Never quit, never give up. You’ve always a chance if you don’t quit.

Thinking Out Loud – From Aesop’s Fables – All Work is Significant

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

The Fable

“A Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over

his face. Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about

to kill it. The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare

its life. “Please let me go,” it cried, “and one day I will repay

you for your kindness.” The idea of so insignificant a creature

ever being able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that

he laughed aloud, and good-humoredly let it go. But the Mouse’s

chance came, after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net

which had been spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard

and recognized his roars of anger and ran to the spot. Without more

ado it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded

before long in setting the Lion free. “There!” said the Mouse, “you

laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see,

even a Mouse can help a Lion.”

 Note: We need each other.  Our work may seem insignificant, but it’s not. All work is honorable and significant. My mom worked in a shoe shop for much of her adult life. She worked piece-time, e.g., she was paid by how many pieces she could process in a day. Somewhere on our planet someone was wearing shoes that she contributed in small part to their making. My dad worked in shoe shops, tended bar, and worked as a custodian. All three jobs may appear insignificant, but each job brought benefit to other people. The work you do is significant. Honor it, be grateful for it.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Be Wise, Listen and Evaluate

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

The Fable

“A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some

compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature without

some plausible excuse; so he cast about for a grievance and said at

last, “Last year, sirrah, you grossly insulted me.” “That is

impossible, sir,” bleated the Lamb, “for I wasn’t born then.”

“Well,” retorted the Wolf, “you feed in my pastures.” “That cannot

be,” replied the Lamb, “for I have never yet tasted grass.” “You

drink from my spring, then,” continued the Wolf. “Indeed, sir,”

said the poor Lamb, “I have never yet drunk anything but my

mother’s milk.” “Well, anyhow,” said the Wolf, “I’m not going

without my dinner”: and he sprang upon the Lamb and devoured it

without more ado.”

 

.Note: I’ve heard this fable told another way, a scorpion asks a frog to carry him across a river. The frog refused telling the scorpion, that he didn’t want the scorpion to bite him. The scorpion swore an oath that he would not bite the frog. The frog agreed to transport the scorpion. When they reached the other side of the river, the scorpion bit the frog. The frog gasped, ‘But you swore an oath.’ ‘Ha, said the scorpion, I only can be what I am, a scorpion.’ Both tales caution us to be wary of those who will try to dupe us to accomplish get their way. A rule of thumb to remember, “The best predictor of future performance is past performance.”

Thinking Out Loud ~ If We Don’t Bend, We Break

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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.

 

Thinking Out Loud ~ Let the Intellect Rule Over Emotions

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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.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Learn from Experience

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

The Fable

“There was once a house that was overrun with Mice. A Cat heard

of this, and said to herself, “That’s the place for me,” and off

she went and took up her quarters in the house, and caught the Mice

one by one and ate them. At last the Mice could stand it no longer,

and they determined to take to their holes and stay there. “That’s

awkward,” said the Cat to herself: “the only thing to do is to coax

them out by a trick.” So she considered a while, and then climbed

up the wall and let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg,

and pretended to be dead. By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the

Cat hanging there. “Aha!” it cried, “you’re very clever, madam, no

doubt: but you may turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there,

if you like, yet you won’t catch us coming anywhere near you.”

 

Note: There are lots of slicks folks who want to take advantage of us. We get warned about scams coming through on emails or text messages. They may be a politician or someone we work with. We may not recognize it in the moment when someone is taking advantage of us. But we can learn from the experience and not be taken advantage of again. Experience can be a tough teacher. Anytime we refuse to be taken advantage of, we become stronger and wiser. We don’t have to be a victim. We are empowered people if we choose to be.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Take Time to Reflect on What is Important

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Aesop’s Fable, The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.

The Fable

A Man and his Wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a Golden Egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

Note: It’s easy to get caught in the trap of wanting more and not being satisfied with what we have. It’s all around us; it may be happening to us and we don’t even know it. We may be sacrificing our relationships it to get more and give up the time we once enjoyed with the people we love. We may acquire what we are chasing and lose everything we have. Take time to reflect on what is important. It will make all the difference in your life.

Thinking Out Loud ~ Listen to Your Intuition

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Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection on Richard Bach’s, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Jonathon Livingston Seagull has an intuitive insight and follows it.

The moon and the lights twinkling in the water throwing a little beacon trails through the night, and all so peaceful and still. . . .

Get down! Seagulls never fly in the dark! If you were meant to fly in the dark you’d have the eyes of an owl! You’d have charts for brains! You’d have a falcon’s short wings!

 There in the night, a hundred feet in the air, Jonathan Livingston seagull blinked. His pain, his resolutions, vanished.

 Short wings. A Falcon’s short wings. That’s the answer. What a fool I’ve been. All I need is tiny little wings. All I need is to fold most of my wings and fly just on the tips alone! Short wings!

Note: Listen to your intuition. It’s working for you 24/7. Your intuition sees what your mind refuses to see. Your intuition is not filtered by biases and other people’s opinions. Your intuition knows how your heart thinks and it is connected in a very deep way to your destiny. Silence helps us to hear what our intuition is telling us. It may come when you are walking, riding, or taking a shower. Our intuition has a habit of showing up when we least expect it. But when it does listen.

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