We all know that it’s important to be open-minded and think before we act, but how often do we actually take the time to do this? In this article, I’ll share a story that shines a unique perspective on judging your current circumstance prematurely.
This story about a farmer's luck has significantly impacted my life and well-being. My perspective on different life situations has changed as a result of it.
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A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild horses back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the horses and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The neighbors cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, because he had a broken leg. The neighbors shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”
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Most of the time, it is hard to tell if an event is good or bad luck. However, many people tend to jump to conclusions and judge a situation prematurely. It is certainly troublesome to assume that a situation is bad luck, especially if you believe your perception shapes your reality.
Until life unfolds, we cannot know if something is good or bad.
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