Here is a story etched in my memory....
A certain rich merchant was walking through the market place of Baghdad when, standing across the street, he suddenly saw the figure of Death, beckoning him.
The terrified man ran home, mounted his fastest horse, and raced five hundred miles to Samara. Later that night, there was a knock at the door. When the man answered it, there stood Death.
"Why did you beckon me in the market place of Baghdad today?" asked the man. "I did not beckon you." replied Death. "I was merely surprised to see you, for I knew that tonight, we had an appointment in Samara.
Might feel depressing if that is the way you view death or destiny. But take a step back and see yourself. What are you running from? Will it go away? Will it stop chasing?
More than often, I find that the more I run away from something, the more likely I end up running towards it. When I avoid a new colleague at work who is insensitive to others' needs and muddles his way through life, I am pretty sure that my new boss (or the neighbour who just moved in) will just have the same habit. And I really cant avoid them...
The lesson shall present itself till I learn. Hard though it may sound, but as soon as I learn to deal with this in a self-respecting way, I feel larger, bigger and grateful.
So, when life throws a question at you which irks you, it is almost always better to accept that sooner or later you will have to deal with it. Avoid it if you are not ready. Run, if you are not ready. But run, lift weights and turn back to face it. It is only when you stop, that you are no longer chased.
A certain rich merchant was walking through the market place of Baghdad when, standing across the street, he suddenly saw the figure of Death, beckoning him.
The terrified man ran home, mounted his fastest horse, and raced five hundred miles to Samara. Later that night, there was a knock at the door. When the man answered it, there stood Death.
"Why did you beckon me in the market place of Baghdad today?" asked the man. "I did not beckon you." replied Death. "I was merely surprised to see you, for I knew that tonight, we had an appointment in Samara.
Might feel depressing if that is the way you view death or destiny. But take a step back and see yourself. What are you running from? Will it go away? Will it stop chasing?
More than often, I find that the more I run away from something, the more likely I end up running towards it. When I avoid a new colleague at work who is insensitive to others' needs and muddles his way through life, I am pretty sure that my new boss (or the neighbour who just moved in) will just have the same habit. And I really cant avoid them...
The lesson shall present itself till I learn. Hard though it may sound, but as soon as I learn to deal with this in a self-respecting way, I feel larger, bigger and grateful.
So, when life throws a question at you which irks you, it is almost always better to accept that sooner or later you will have to deal with it. Avoid it if you are not ready. Run, if you are not ready. But run, lift weights and turn back to face it. It is only when you stop, that you are no longer chased.
