A farmer and his family owned a horse. His neighbors said how lucky he was to have such a fine horse to pull his plow through the fields. The farmer replied, “Perhaps.”
One day the horse broke through the gate and ran away. His neighbors came around to lament his loss, saying it was a terrible bit of bad luck. The farmer replied, “Perhaps.”
Days later the horse returned to the farm along with seven wild horses. His neighbors came around to exclaim his good fortune. The farmer replied, “Perhaps.”
A few weeks later the farmer’s son was training the new horses and fell off and broke his leg. The neighbors came around to commiserate his misfortune and said, “What bad luck!” The farmer replied, “Perhaps.”
The next week the army came around taking all the able-bodied young men from the village to fight in the war. The farmer’s son with the broken leg was left behind. The neighbors commented on how lucky the farmer was to have his son. The farmer replied, “Perhaps.”
The point of the story isn’t that the farmer never felt anything when something went wrong, or that he never rejoiced silently when something went right.
Rather he stayed the course through every bit of news, good or bad.
There are many points in life where we experience highs and lows. In each circumstance we undoubtedly react more strongly than we would probably like. I know I do.
But we truly don’t know what lies ahead. We don’t know how the current format of our lives paints the picture forward.
That’s why the present is so important. We live life here. All of our anxieties, shortcomings, insecurities, and everything else that makes us human resides with us right here in the present moment.
Every time we hear some news or something happens to us, we have this itch to predict everything that will follow.
We suggest our own fate.
On the other hand it’s impossible to mosey through life like a robot, unable to understand emotion.
We will always be susceptible. We’ll be tempted to be the neighbor that runs to the farmer, whether it be in celebration or agony, craving that authentic feeling of joy or defeat.
We’ll want to show the world our cards. It’s easier than ever to show them how good or bad we have it—especially now.
Is it worth it, though?
In our moment of composure, will we be able reconcile our feelings in the present so that we can move forward in peace?
Perhaps.
The highs and lows are unavoidable. Our ability to stay level-headed through circumstance—both good and bad—will ultimately carry us through.