Sigh, sitting in the virtual meeting room...
Sigh, sitting in the virtual meeting room...
We were talking upthread about goals and the path to them. It reminded me of this quote from The Tao of Pooh (which I highly recommend):
Embrace the journey.The Christmas presents once opened are Not So Much Fun as they were while we were in the process of examining, lifting, shaking, thinking about, and opening them. Three hundred sixty-five days later, we try again and find that the same thing has happened. Each time the goal is reached, it becomes Not So Much Fun, and we're off to reach the next one, then the next one, then the next.
That doesn't mean that the goals we have don't count. They do, mostly because they cause us to go through the process and it's the process that makes us wise, happy, or whatever. If we do things in the wrong sort of way, it makes us miserable, angry, confused, and things like that. The goal has to be right for us, and it has to be beneficial, in order to ensure a beneficial process. But aside from that, it's really the process that's important.
What would Christopher Robin think?
"Within each of us there is an Owl, a Rabbit, and Eeyore, and a Pooh. For too long, we have chosen the way of Owl and Rabbit. Now, like Eeyore, we complain about the results. But that accomplishes nothing. If we are smart, we will choose the way of Pooh. As if from far away, it calls us with the voice of a child's mind. It may be hard to hear at times, but it is important just the same, because without it, we will never find our way through the forest."
-- The Tao of Pooh
“Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything.”
-- The Tao of Pooh
That must have been an interesting read. I’ll see if it is available digitally.
Only $3.99 via B&N.
I read The Tao of Pooh a long time ago. Still one of my favorites.
The last few lines of my play All the Way to Wonderland
Joe: You will be disappointed.
Chet: I'm always disappointed. The places we go, the people we don't help, always disappointed. I don't expect not to be.
Joe: Good.
Chet: I am going to enjoy the journey though.
Joe: All right. All the way to Wonderland.