Maybe

A parable I keep coming back to, popularized by Alan Watts – the story of the Chinese farmer.

A story that serves as a continuous reminder to remain open and curious, rather than certain and overly confident about how things ought to be.

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Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.”

The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”

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“The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.”

— Alan Watts

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I experience more spaciousness and gratitude and presence more often now when I give things time to mature or expire naturally.

Not forcing my timeline or expectations. Rather, when I I hit a perceived road block, using said inconvenience or mysterious circumstance to ground me to reality.

Let it pin me to what “is”.

What’s really happening and see if I can accept it – not passively, but with curiosity and levity instead of a tight grip or with so much anxiety.

I lost a lacrosse ball I use for massaging my feet and working out sore muscles in between workouts and runs. I use it every day. But one day it disappeared. Which was unfortunate because I was traveling and going to be gone for six days without any of my usual recovery tools. I noticed it was missing maybe three weeks before my trip. It really bugged me but I had this sense that it was just misplaced and I’d find it eventually. Then when I got to the airport, looking in my briefcase, which I never take on trips, I find the magical orange piece of rubber. 🙂 It felt like a wink from God and a small reminder to trust, let go, and laugh.

Another funny story – I was interviewing for a new job I was excited about. Seemingly perfect fit, staying in the wellness industry except I’d have to travel a good amount still and the pay would be potentially tight. Great back to back interviews and then things slowed due to recent funding/new investors applying additional due diligence. I began to overthink and my mind raced to different potential reasons.

Things weren’t happening as I’d hoped or expected. The timeline was stretching beyond what I anticipated. The change in health insurance premiums would also be a potential hurdle. Worry worry worry.

Then a friend reached out about a new opportunity at an exciting, young software company. Higher earning potential, growing team, no travel, lots of opportunity to help build.

Friend called on Thursday, interview with head of sales on Friday, interview with CEO Monday, interview with CPO (product)/Founder Tuesday, offer Thursday, accepted offer Friday.

Plenty of stories that haven’t ended this way. But how many things haven’t happened that we’re unaware of or wish would have but ended up bringing us to a different opportunity, person, revelation or outcome?