a story of the Chinese farmer

A farmer and his son had a beloved horse who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbours 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 neighbours 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 neighbours 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 neighbours shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!”

To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.”

I love and resonate with this story so much.

The human life is a long journey, with breath-taking views, high summits, twists, turns and roadblocks.

And we never really know the bigger picture. A seeming misfortune, could turn out to be a life pivot that creates a whole new story.

On the other hand, things may seem shiny and perfect, but as time passes the glitters fade and it doesn’t turn out how you imagined it to be.

Something incredibly sad could happen, but then one day it could turn out to be one of the best things that ever happened to you.

Everything is ever evolving.

Nothing is black and white.

So what would happen if we removed the judgment?

“ Trust that the universe is unfolding as it should. ” – Max Ehrmann

This story really explores the concept of mindfulness.

To remove ourselves from any pains of the past, and the anxieties of the future and to fully live in the present.

Nothing is good, bad, right, wrong. It just is.

Did this story resonate for you?