At the onset of Year of the Rabbit, here is a different perspective that I came across:
Everyone throughout the world kept giving the example of the tortoise, saying that slow and steady wins the race, and emphasizing the value of persistence and dedication. No one ever bothered to ask the Hare his side of the story. So let me tell you the story from a different point of view. I met the Hare and sat down with him for a heart to heart talk. It was a wonderful experience, believe me..
“Yes, I am the hare who lost. No, I did not get lazy or complacent. Let me explain.
I was hopping over the meadows near the hills. I looked back & realized that the tortoise was nowhere to be seen. Assured of my healthy lead, I decided to take a short nap under the large banyan tree near the pond.
The anticipation of the race had kept me up all night. For days, that old silly tortoise had boasted about his ability to plod for hundreds of miles without stopping. Life is a marathon, he said, not a sprint. I wanted to show him that I could run both far and fast.
The shade of the tree was like an umbrella. I found an almost oval rock, covered it with grass, and turned it into a makeshift pillow. I could hear the leaves rustling and the bees buzzing – it felt they were collaborating and even conspiring to put me to sleep.
And it didn’t take them long to succeed. I saw myself drifting on a log in a beautiful stream of water. As I came near the shore, I found an old man, with a flowing beard, sitting on a rock in a meditative pose. He opened his eyes, gave me an all-knowing smile, and asked:
“Who are you?”
“I am a hare. I am running a race.”
“Why?”
“To prove to all the creatures in the jungle that I am the fastest.”
“Why do you want to prove that you are the fastest?”
“So that I get a medal which will give me status which will give me money which will get me food…”
“There is already so much food around.” He pointed to the forest in the distance. “Look at all those trees laden with fruits and nuts, all those leafy branches”
“I also want respect. I want to be remembered as the fastest hare who ever lived.”
“Do you know the name of the fastest deer or the largest elephant or the strongest lion who lived a thousand years before you?”
“No.”
“Today you have been challenged by a tortoise. Tomorrow, it will be a snake. Then it will be a zebra. Will you keep racing all your life to prove that you are the fastest?”
“Hmm. I didn’t think about it.
I don’t want to race all my life.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to sleep under a banyan tree on a makeshift pillow while the leaves rustle and the bees buzz. I want to hop over the meadows near the hills and swim in the pond.”
“You can do all these things at this very moment. Forget the race. You are here today but you will be gone tomorrow.”
I woke up from my sleep.
The ducks in the pond looked happy. I jumped into the pond, startling them for a moment. They looked at me quizzically.
“Weren’t you supposed to be racing with the tortoise today?”
“It’s pointless. An exercise in futility. All I want is to be here.
Hopefully, someday, someone will tell the world my story:
That I lost the race, but got back my life!!"
Story source: Unknown
Photo by Janan Lagerwall on Unsplash
(Although they are different species, I have taken the liberty to treat the hare and the rabbit as interchangeable to maintain the connect with the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit and keep the parable of the Hare & the Tortoise intact!)
The author, Anuj Chadha, is a Life & Executive Coach, Founder of Three Circles. At Three Circles, we come with a deep understanding of what it takes to navigate the challenges that life throws at us. We partner with our clients, listen to their life aspirations, and support them to break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back. Life is too precious to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled. Give us the opportunity to partner with you as you re-imagine and re-create the Life that you Love!