XXVII. Life's a Paradox
Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.
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“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
The following Aesop’s fable is known as The Lion & the Mouse. It goes like this…
A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws.
A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose.
Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.
"Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."
The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.
Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net.
Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring.
The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net.
Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.
"You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse.
"Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."
It’s wise to entertain the idea that life is a paradox, mostly about the more we give without expectation, the more we get back.
When we embrace the attitude that we can always give more and rather than lose, we paradoxically thrive because of it, our lives smoothen and we become happier as we’re doing what’s natural to being human.
What’s natural is always good for us. Marcus Aurelius wrote,
“Enjoyment means doing as much of what your nature requires as you can. And you can do that anywhere.”
Elsewhere, he adds,
“Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.”
Help as much as you can today, tomorrow — everyday.
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See you tomorrow. xo
A.V