[Dandy Lion]

I really love  the donkey in the well story.

There's an excellent Taoist tale of a farmer who has a balanced view of life. This view often confuses those around him that expect him to react or behave according to the "norm".

The story goes that an old farmer is working hard in the fields. He has a wife and a son, and ekes out a meagre living. One day, his only horse runs away. Upon hearing this, his neighbours comment "Oh, how awful! That is terrible!" The farmer's reply:

"Maybe, maybe not."

A few days later, the farmer's horse returns and with it is another, exotic horse from far away. The horse is a mare, and is of rare value. The neighbours, upon hearing this, exclaim "How wonderful! It's fantastic that your horse returned and brought another horse with it!". The farmer shrugged and said:

"Maybe, maybe not."

The farmer's horses gave him many young, prized colts making the farmer very wealthy in the town. The neighbours were very happy for the farm saying; "This is so fantastic! Your new horses have brought you much fortune!" The farmer responded:

"Maybe, maybe not."

The farmer's son, now a young man, tried to tame one of the young colts and was thrown from the horse, breaking his hip. This left the son unable to walk. The neighbours came to help and tried to console the farmer saying; "Oh, how awful! Your only son will never walk again!". The farmer, who was not upset, simply said:

"Maybe, maybe not."

Later that year, the farmer's country went to war, and the army came by to conscript every abled bodied man for duty. The farmer was too old to be taken, and his son could not walk, therefore he was excused. The army simply took the farmer's horses, leaving him just his original horse to allow him to keep farming.

Was the farmer's life good? Maybe. Was the farmer's life bad? Maybe not.

The moral of the story is that positive and negative, bad and good are just different sides of the same coin. It all depends on your perspective and which way you choose to view a given situation. Since these attributes don't actually exist in reality, they are simply labels or values that we individually assign to what we are witnessing.

To truly be the witness and live directly in the moment, we could choose to not assign any values to situations. I believe this is what the farmer is doing. I love this story, and I find it an excellent parable to tell people who feel they are facing a tough circumstance

[Wed2Him?Whatever.]

In a world of filth, I will stay pure; surrounded by lies I will speak the truth; where hopelessness abounds, I will hope in God: where revenge is easier, I will bless instead of curse; and where the odds are stacked against me, I will trust in God's faithfulness.
I am a STANDER, and I will not acquiesce, compromise, quarrel or quit...
I will allow neither the reaction of my spouse, nor the urging of my friends, nor the advice of my loved ones, nor economic hardship, nor the prompting of the devil to make me let up, slow up, blow up, or give up 'til my marriage is healed.

I needed to see this today and to reread it a couple of times.  Thanks for posting it here.

[dragonfly]

Thanks for posting! I have seen this one and I find it powerful and encouraging. I added a few sentences for myself. It serves merely as a mental note to self....

I accept that I have no control over the outcome. I can't change anyone but myself. I will look carefully at my own life, take responsibility for myself and my children. I will not betray my life values.

Love, Dragonfly

[WarriorPriestess]

I've heard that Taoist story before and I LOVE IT!!  Thanks for posting it Umare. 

[Wed2Him?Whatever.]

You cannot become the person you’re to become without your history. God will tie it together — that’s what redemption is.”

I just now read this and it really spoke to me.  Thanks for this post, it is so encouraging!!

[Synicca]

I have been thinking about this for some time....As we get older we start to view life differently, we tend to be to busy
with everyday life....work, kids, husbands/wives, The running around like we cant get to the end fast enough..

But what about the inner child? The one that doesn't care about dancing in the streets? The one that sings in public,
The NO FEAR stance...That inner child that wasn't afraid to go 110 in their first car..or sneak in a buddy/friend into
the drive in theater?

There is a part of me, that doesn't want to lose that.....The fun loving child...The one that can dance in the kitchen to our own
tune..The one that isn't afraid to run around the house naked and sing...Where did that person go?

Should we lose the playfullness that we once had because we married and had children??

I wanted to do this thread.....What would you LOVE to do...That you let fall on the back burner?

I always remember the movie with Gene Kelly singing "dancing in the rain" and why don't I do that anymore?
That feeling of freedom?

What happened to me after I had a child, and married the man I love...Why does everyday life take this feeling away from us?
Sad really.....

[LeaveThePastBehind]

The happiest I've ever been in my entire life was when, as a kid, I would memorize the words to my favorite songs and sing my heart out all over the house  . Everyone always told me I had a beautiful voice but then, as I got older, my voice changed and it's just not good anymore. But I still love to sing when I'm at Karaoke where I transform from my introverted, shy nature and get lost in the song  .


Other than that, the child in me is scared of this crazy world we live in. I think she's just afraid of life so she hides all the time.

[WarriorPriestess]

I love this topic!  My inner child stays up too late reading books under the covers, talks to plants, loves all animals, draws, dances, creates elaborate fantasy stories in her head, and is in love with herself and the world!  She sees the magic in everything, and doesn't care at all what other people think.  She is proud and secure in who she is and what she likes to do, whatever that may be.  She is happy. 

[Believer]

Syn,

This is awesome!!
My inner child loves to colour even of I go outside the lines.
  Although my most favourite thing to do is to jump in puddles!! even now I drive through them with my car just to see a splash.
I hope I never give up puddles.... I'll be 90 still jumping in them ..hmm maybe the puddle will be my bladder giving way by then

[Anjae]

I've never lost my inner child. She was always around even when I was married. Husband and I were very playfull with each other. We played ball on the house corridor, had play fights upon the bed, went out dancing, laughed a lot, did crazy hours dinners. We had no children, no mortgage, had our own projects thart allowed us for a lot of freedom.

I do dance alone in the house. Always had, even when was still with husband. Must say my inner child is very much like WP one. She also likes to swim and play ball and go for long walks. And to stay a lot of time by herself.

Never singed on the rain but had, after husband left, danced on the rain and also on a very hot night, in the street, with a friend.

Watching those movies about MLC , Solitary man, The Beaver, Eat.Pray.Love, Funny,Crazy,Love I found those couples to be very stiff without any fun in them.