“So…that’s the map, huh?” asked Thalia.
“You know nine miles is a pittance, right?” asked Urania. “…that guy who left yoga at the beginning of class a few weeks ago? Well, he came back. His story—he’s an ultramarathoner and he felt he couldn’t “do yoga” because his muscles are too tight—so he left.
Calliope added, “Yeah, but Sarah called him and gave him a private lesson. Now it seems he’s going to join the Tuesday night stretch.”
“So what—he runs 100 miles—we walked nine. Remember the gift a fellow writer gave us so many years ago?”
What is small to the bear is big to the ant.
“And therefore, the ant keeps going.”
“Can you believe we didn’t even break a sweat driving home in that snow?” asked Calliope.
“You know why, right?” asked Urania.
“It was that story Manu told about his trip to the mountains. He said driving through the snow was perhaps the best part of his trip—because somebody in a truck offered help. Maybe it wasn’t comfortable, but it was a growing experience.”
“And now his approach rubbed off on us?” asked Thalia.
“Yes, that’s how it works…remember the tea bag tag wisdom?”
To remain calm is the highest achievement of the self.
“It’s easier to be calm if the people around you aren’t yelling—fire!”
“I have to admit…the mashed potato balls covered in baloney sauce were pretty good.” said Thalia.
“Bolognese Thalia…” replied Calliope. “Now you’re just saying baloney on purpose. I refuse to bite.”
All of life is an experiment; the more experiments the better. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hi Gail!
"To remain calm is the highest achievement of the self."
I dove a bit this summer into surrender and radical acceptance -- and a few had recommended stoicism -- which the quote you mention and I've copied above seems to align with.
I also appreciate the "bear and ant" as it reminds me that perspective matters a whole lot. And it solves a puzzle that I've been negotiating.
Specifically if what we choose to do is small to us, but big to someone else it isn't as easy of a choice.
What I'd love your perspective on is do you agree that "calm" is the highest achievement of self?
Kettle Moraine State Forest! Our Scout troop used to camp there, once a year or so. Great hiking, as I recall; this would have been late 60s/early 70s. And it wasn’t the linear distance so much as the vertical changes, so tell Urania that 2D maps can be deceiving!