During my morning meditation, I thought about an article that I wrote in June of 2010. As I thought about the article I was reminded to stay in my lane.
I was reminded that by staying in my own lane I would succeed by not giving up.
As I thought about the article, I was reminded to stay committed to running my own race.
I was reminded to stay focused on running my own race.
I was reminded that I only need to be concerned about running my own race.
I was reminded that I was never meant to run anyone elses race.
I was reminded to not be distracted by what other people may say or do as I run my race.
I was reminded that I would win my race.
Below is a copy of the article that I wrote in June 2010.
Living with a brain injury and the Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare
Posted by Second Chance to Live on June 11, 2010
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Thank you. Over the past several days I have been writing a series Living with a brain injury and Having Options. Last night I began thinking about the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. Although I have not finished the series, I feel led to speak to the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare.
In the fable, the tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The story goes on to share how the hare scoffs at the tortoise’s challenge. The hare, because his “superior speed” thought he would surely beat the tortoise. In the hare’s arrogance — by what he said and did – he minimized, marginalized and discounted the possibility that the tortoise could run and even win the race.
As the fable comes to a close, we find that the tortoise is actually waiting for the hare at the finish line. The line written at the base of the fable denotes the meaning of the story.
Slow and steady wins the race. Although the hare was much quicker than the tortoise, because the tortoise stayed committed to running his race, the tortoise went on to finish and even win the race.
Today’s Thought
In life, you may feel like the tortoise in the fable. Like the tortoise, you may have people in your life who behave like the hare. You — like the tortoise — may find there are hares, who by what they say and do discount you are and your ability to participate in any race. You – like the tortoise – may find that there are hare (s) in your life, who by what they say and do dismiss your ability to run in, much less win your race.
Like the tortoise, you may have hares in your life — who by what they say and do — seek to discourage you from running in your race.
To that I would say. No worries. Be like the tortoise and determine to run your race. Be like the tortoise and be who you are my friend. Be like the tortoise and go about your business. Stay committed to your mission and vision. And as the tortoise found, you will finish and win your race — because you did not pay attention to what the hare (s) said or did — as you ran your race. And as you run your race, remember – Slow and steady wins the race.
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…You will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
“Regardless of your lot in life, you can build something beautiful on it.” Zig Ziglar
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Once we start walking, before long we will be able to look back and see how far we have come because we did not give up.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
“Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you only have a extemporaneous half-possession…Do that which is assigned to you and you can not hope too much or dare too much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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