At the age of 11, I was unofficially adopted into a family that loved me, fed me and gave me that extra bit of support that certain, exceptional kids need when they come from less-than-exceptional circumstances. Throughout my teenage years and now, long into my adulthood, my "godparents" taught me a number of big and important things about life. The first big and important thing was to question everything and always think for myself. The next was to set goals and stick to them, and always do my best. The final big and important thing was to never feel sorry for myself...no matter what...and never make excuses for shabby behavior.
Unlike my own parents, my godparents had a large home office and a library-sized collection of books. They built separate, home-grown businesses, which they still continue to nurture to this day. Ever since I was a kid, there has been a quote posted on one of the peg-boards in the home office. I have always loved this quote and used it to get myself motivated in the morning. The quote sums up all of the lessons in healthy life training. Not surprisingly, it is the quote that now sits in my own office, just above my desk. It goes as follows:
The Lion and the Gazelle
Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the fastest Lion or it will be killed.
Every morning in Africa, a Lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will go hungry.
It doesn't matter if you are a Lion or a Gazelle. When the sun comes up, your Ass better be running.
About Me
- Namaste
- I'm Namaste. I suffer from a chronic rebellion disorder and wear my heart on my sleeve because I don't know where else it will fit. I write long posts. I ask hard questions. I'm not quite sure what to do with all of my education. I fantasize about gardening, making lemon-mint drinks from my own lemon tree and mint garden. I recently discovered that I am good at domestication.
3 comments:
Love the quote. Will need to share that with my students!
Not all that survive on the Plains are runners or sprinters. Some are mere tortoises. Some are lazy but keen eyed & quick vultures. Some are slow but steady jackals who's strengths lies in numbers. Which is to say that when the sun comes up, the lions are typically going to sleep and the Gazelles are just waking up getting to feed. Movement for it's own sake is and can be a virtue. The secret is in How you move and Why, and not uncommonly Where too!
Not everything moving is chasing. Not everything running is hiding or fleeing.
But a fine statement for a short aphorism. Cheers & Good Luck, 'VJ'
LOL. That was quite a rant, VJ. In cases like this you need your own blog!
Thanks as always for the thoughtful commentary.
Namaste
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