Feelings analogies

[megan]

I came across these two analogies about feelings and they seem to have become mantras for me. I don't know what I like about them so much, but I thought I'd share them:

"Feelings aren't good or bad, they just ARE."

"Feelings are like the weather: you can't control them but you can dress for them."

It seems we aren't responsible for what we feel, but how we deal with our feelings. Maybe that's what I find comforting: that what I feel will never be wrong.

[Rhonda]

very true Megan #up# thanks for sharing
Rhonda

I have a story about this its an old Japanese one that was sent to me by one of the kids well young man now while he travelled thru Asia that was passed along to him while he was there.
i gotta find that stuff--its on my discs.
somewhere

[Rhonda]

i finally found that old Japanese Legend Megan

thought you might enjoy reading it

AN OLD JAPANESE LEGEND



Long ago, in a remote village in Japan, lived an elderly farmer who bred horses.

One morning he woke up to find his prize stallion missing. Upon hearing the news, the other villagers said empathetically to him, “This must be grave news for you, old one. The stallion was the cornerstone of your business and without you shall surely be poor!” But the old man simply, just shook his head and said, “it is neither good nor bad, it is just the way it is.” Most of the villagers laughed at his remark, or felt sorry for him believing that in his predicament he must have gone crazy.

But a week later the stallion returned. And he was followed by ten wild horses. The villagers returned to the old man’s farm and proclaimed, “What tremendous good fortune! Now you have eleven horses whereas before you only had one!” But the old farmer only smiled and said”. It is neither good nor bad—it is just the way it is.”

The villagers were bewildered by this comment—surely the old man must have been totally mad not be excited over his good fortune.



The following day was greeted by yet another turn of events. The farmer’s son broke his leg while trying to tame on of the wild horses.

The villagers all lamented sympathetically to the old man, “ What grave

misfortune for you”. But the old man smiled and shook his head, and said, “ It is neither good nor bad—it is just the way it is.” Now the

villagers were certain the old man must surely be crazy. How could he not be upset at the injury that had befallen his son? And aside from the pain, the old man would no longer have anyone to help run his farm.

This should have been grave news indeed!!!

But as it happened, the area was deep in political turmoil. A senseless war broke out only a few weeks later and the battle cries were heard throughout the land. All the young men in the village were sent out to fight—all that is except the old farmers’ son. He had broken his leg and could not fight so he was spared. The villagers upon hearing the news said to the old man, “ You are SOOOOOOO lucky! Our children will surely perish in this meaningless battle, while your son will survive!”

You can guess the old man’s response!!!

[aka]

Thanks for posting the "Old Japanese Legend", it is one of my favourite stories.

The version I had was slightly different and was used to illustrate the point.... that one never knows what is good luck and what is bad luck.

Hindsight can give us clues, but not really an answer, for even after we have passed on, the effects of our actions, are still being felt by those who follow us.