Roughly ten years ago a friend shared a story with me. The message was very strong and also perplexing for me. Over the years I had wanted to remember the details of the story in order to be able to remind myself of the strong message. Although I had lost touch with the friend who first shared it, I still kept hoping that I would come across the story again.
And several years ago, I was in a class and came across the profound
story in our student manual.
Here it is:
The Farmer's Story (said to come from Eastern folk lore)
There was once a farmer who had a horse. One day, the horse escaped
from the corral and was gone. His neighbors came over to tell him how
sorry they were that his horse was missing.
"Oh how terrible!" they said. He simply answered, "Maybe."
(or as I like to say, "Could be good. Could be bad").
The next day the horse returned with two other wild horses and
now the farmer had three.
"Oh, how auspicious!" said his neighbors.
Once again the farmer simply answered, "Maybe."
or "Could be good. Could be bad."
Two days later, the farmer's son was trying to ride one of the
wild horses and was thrown to the ground, breaking his leg.
The neighbors rushed over once more to declare, "Oh, how terrible!"
Yet the farmer still answered, "Maybe."
or "Could be good. Could be bad."
A week later, the army came through town, conscripting all the able
bodied men into their service for battle.
Because his son had a broken leg he was passed by.
The End.
The reason I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story is that the man responds with no
judgments as each event occurs.
He is at peace with the seemingly "good" or seemingly "bad."
He doesn't react and get all riled up.
He doesn't make up stories, start fretting and panicking.
He doesn't waste his time with 'What ifs.'
What he does is Stay PRESENT!!!!!
in the Moment.
He remains calm. Watching, witnessing and experiencing life as it comes.
What a wonderful way to Live and Experience Life, wouldn't you Agree?
I truly wish this for you.
And perhaps you will remember this story and the "Maybe" Man, or
as I like to call him, " Could be Good, Could be Bad.
Stay Present my Friends.
And several years ago, I was in a class and came across the profound
story in our student manual.
Here it is:
The Farmer's Story (said to come from Eastern folk lore)
There was once a farmer who had a horse. One day, the horse escaped
from the corral and was gone. His neighbors came over to tell him how
sorry they were that his horse was missing.
"Oh how terrible!" they said. He simply answered, "Maybe."
(or as I like to say, "Could be good. Could be bad").
The next day the horse returned with two other wild horses and
now the farmer had three.
"Oh, how auspicious!" said his neighbors.
Once again the farmer simply answered, "Maybe."
or "Could be good. Could be bad."
Two days later, the farmer's son was trying to ride one of the
wild horses and was thrown to the ground, breaking his leg.
The neighbors rushed over once more to declare, "Oh, how terrible!"
Yet the farmer still answered, "Maybe."
or "Could be good. Could be bad."
A week later, the army came through town, conscripting all the able
bodied men into their service for battle.
Because his son had a broken leg he was passed by.
The End.
The reason I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story is that the man responds with no
judgments as each event occurs.
He is at peace with the seemingly "good" or seemingly "bad."
He doesn't react and get all riled up.
He doesn't make up stories, start fretting and panicking.
He doesn't waste his time with 'What ifs.'
What he does is Stay PRESENT!!!!!
in the Moment.
He remains calm. Watching, witnessing and experiencing life as it comes.
What a wonderful way to Live and Experience Life, wouldn't you Agree?
I truly wish this for you.
And perhaps you will remember this story and the "Maybe" Man, or
as I like to call him, " Could be Good, Could be Bad.
Stay Present my Friends.
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