The turtle and the rabbit

[AaronB]

A story taught by turtles to rabbits to convert rabbits into turtles. We convince children that by slowing down, they will get so much further. Eventually they lose all enthusiasm and become slow and steady plodding goal oriented creatures that never get anywhere. In reality rabbits go much further much faster, even though they aren't the slightest bit concerned about winning.

[nxomsa]

Interesting remark Aaron! Just curious where that comes from though. i thought that in today's culture, things were the other way around. For instance, it's a common fear that children are pushed too hard to achieve too much too soon.

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by nxomsa

Interesting remark Aaron! Just curious where that comes from though. i thought that in today's culture, things were the other way around. For instance, it's a common fear that children are pushed too hard to achieve too much too soon.

I just made the whole thing up. It felt meaningful to me. Children are naturally very energetic. Even playing at work things, it's a lot of work to slow them down. Once we slow them down successfully and get them to stand in line and stuff, then we push them. You can't push a rabbit, you'd never catch up. You got a slow it down first. Once it's a turtle, then you can hurry it up.

[nxomsa]

Well it caught my eye, I get it. It's like the concept of momentum or inertia. Once it's going, why waste energy interfering? We create more work for ourselves. Classic example: My kids are having a great time, running, jumping etc. I want them to be quiet & more serene so I try to introduce some quieter activity. This results in an upset of the "energy balance" and they start whining, fighting etc... should have just let them be. The energy was where it should have been.

did I digress?

[AaronB]

Originally Posted by nxomsa

Well it caught my eye, I get it. It's like the concept of momentum or inertia. Once it's going, why waste energy interfering? We create more work for ourselves. Classic example: My kids are having a great time, running, jumping etc. I want them to be quiet & more serene so I try to introduce some quieter activity. This results in an upset of the "energy balance" and they start whining, fighting etc... should have just let them be. The energy was where it should have been.

did I digress?

I think what you say is very relevant. Ideally you would never feel like you yourself need rest, and they could express their super active selves in whatever way they please. But practically speaking I think you have to include yourself in the equation somewhere. For their own benefit, you don't want yourself to become energetically exhausted. To me that's the beauty and difficulty of life, is that living it takes a whole person. There is no script in existence that can substitute for a person who really doesn't have all the answers and is left with just doing the best they know how.

[Illuminatus]

Originally Posted by AaronB

A story taught by turtles to rabbits to convert rabbits into turtles. We convince children that by slowing down, they will get so much further. Eventually they lose all enthusiasm and become slow and steady plodding goal oriented creatures that never get anywhere. In reality rabbits go much further much faster, even though they aren't the slightest bit concerned about winning.

The story, "The Hare and The Tortoise" as it's known in the UK, is supposed to teach the perils of complacency. I think it's also to show that if you keep moving towards a goal, no matter how slow, eventually you get there. So it depends which lens you view this story through, and that's kind of the whole point of stories.

I personally always resonated a lot more with the hare. He was just so much f*cking... cooler.

[Illuminatus]

Oh, and tortoises don't get laid. Hares do.