Hello,
What's the Problem With the Story
of the Tortoise and the Hare?
1. Inspirational Quotation:
2. Inspirational Thought:
Do you remember the fable of The Tortoise and The Hare?
Let me refresh your memory.
The story begins with the hare bragging to the tortoise about how fast he can run. Annoyed, the tortoise challenges him to a race. The hare is so confident he will win that in the middle of the race he stops to take a nap. When he eventually wakes up, he is surprised to see the tortoise nearing the finish line. Unfortunately for the hare, no matter how fast he runs, he can’t catch up. And the slow and steady tortoise wins the race.
Click here to read the tale of The Tortoise and The Hare.
Fables aim to teach a moral lesson. However, I have a problem with this particular story. In real life, not all hares are foolish. Not all hares lose to tortoises. There are hares that are not only fast, but wise, too.
You and I know the type. Let’s see.
There are the popstars and movie actors. There are the dancers and athletes. I have also read many articles about entrepreneurs who create million dollar businesses while in their twenties.
These are the hares that just seem to get it right. No blood, sweat or tears for them. They just whiz by us and win all the races. They have the Midas touch.
I’m not a hare. I wish I was.
I’m more of a tortoise, although I think most people fall somewhere in between.
How about you? Are you a tortoise or hare?
If you’re not getting the results you want in life, has it occurred to you that you might just be a tortoise?
=================
In his essay about Late Bloomers, which appeared in the New Yorker in 2008, author Malcolm Gladwell described a few real-life examples of tortoises and hares. I particularly liked his comparison of Picasso and Cezanne.
Just in case you didn’t know, Picasso and Cezanne are two of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Their works are valued in the millions, and they hang in very important galleries, museums and private art collections.
Picasso, a hare, was a prodigy who achieved success very early. Many of his great masterpieces were painted by age twenty-six. Cezanne, on the other hand, was a tortoise. Although he started painting as early as Picasso and worked very hard, he didn’t achieve recognition until much later. He had his first solo exhibition at the ripe age of fifty-six. And it is said that his best works were painted while he was in his sixties.
The two couldn’t be more opposite. Cezanne, the tortoise, was a late bloomer.
There are reasons for this.
According to author Malcolm Gladwell, Cezanne didn’t have a great start. In an age when it was an important skill for a painter, Cezanne did not know how to draw. He needed a lot of practice. Moreover, he was constantly unsure of himself. As a result, it took a long time for his art to achieve its great level.
Click here to read the article by author Malcolm Gladwell on Late Bloomers.
Some of us are like that. We might work hard, invest blood, sweat and tears, but still see no progress for a long time.
We could wish we were hares. Wish we didn’t have to struggle. Wish we got it right from the get-go.
If only success came easily.
If you haven't achieved your goals yet, what could be the reasons for your delay?
Maybe you need to learn new skills. Maybe you have financial, relationship or health problems. Or maybe you just wasted a huge chunk of your time in fear, doubt and procrastination.
Although it may be difficult for others to comprehend, if you're like me, sometimes, you just need more time to figure things out.
3. Inspirational Tip:
If it’s taking you a long time to achieve your goals, don’t be discouraged.
Remember the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare.
Persevere.
There’s no shame in being slow. It’s what you achieve in the end that counts.
Cezanne, the tortoise, ultimately won his race. And as a reward for his struggle, his name and legacy will live on forever.
Life doesn’t always work out the way we plan, but we can still cross that finish line.
Persevering despite obstacles builds character. If you would like to develop an unshakable character, you might want to listen to what Jim Rohn has to say.
Kevin submitted this classic poem about persistence, Carry On! by Robert W. Service.
It's a great poem. Read it, and I'll speak to you soon.
I think so!
I hope you enjoyed this issue.
Have any comments? Ideas? Feedback? Anything. I'd love to hear from you. Contact me and let me know.
If you have a friend who would appreciate receiving I Think So!, please forward this issue.
If a friend has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at my website, Pure-Inspirational-Thoughts.com.
The sign-up box is on the right hand column of my home page. You'll also find it at the top of the navigation bar on most of my pages.
|
