WINNING WAYS

Finishing well (and WINNING) requires awareness.

REPOSTED WITH EDITS:

After meeting with fellow authors this past Monday, I recalled that we all had “finishing” on our minds. Finishing what? Finishing this quarter’s goals: books, novels, submissions for competitions, next-level revisions, blogging, posting, or, in general—whatever project that needs to get done. 

The topic of finishing reminded me of all I had not finished, which further reminded me of a children’s story and Aesop’s fable, “The Hare & The Tortoise.”

If you remember the story, a turtle is slowly doing his thing when an energizer bunny mocks him, saying, “Do you ever get anywhere?” In today’s world, it might read, “Do you ever get anything done?” Well, the tortoise had tremendous confidence and challenged the hare to a race. Ha! Everyone would assume that this is a no-brainer. The hare could hop to the finish line and back before the tortoise started. Right? 

Wrong. According to the story.

Why? Well, I will tell anyone who does not remember. 

Once the race begins, sure enough, the hare sped off, but then he got cocky. He decided to take a nap. And while he was dreaming of carrots and future Easter holidays, the tortoise moseyed by.

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When the hare woke up, he did not have time to catch the tortoise, who subsequently crossed the finish line and won the race.

Aesop’s moral of the story is “The race is not always to the swift.” 

An old Greek source surmises the lesson best: ‘many people have good natural abilities which are ruined by idleness; on the other hand, sobriety, zeal, and perseverance can prevail over indolence.’

Source: Aesop’s Fables. A new translation by Laura Gibbs. Oxford University Press (World’s Classics): Oxford, 2002.

And, my takeaway:

Know your strengths but DON’T GET CAUGHT SLEEPING.

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I admit it! Some days I am the hare. I understand that sometimes my superpowers are also my kryptonite.

But not today. 

Today, I will run my race.

I won’t sleep on opportunities to win. I won’t slack up because of the perceived incompatible competition. 

Today, this week, this quarter, I pledge to be more like the tortoise. I will be slow and steady and ultimately successful. 

And I will finish what I started.

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Which one are you? The Hare or the Tortoise?

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My awareness brings clarity for modifications along the road to tremendous success. Today is my day to check myself before I lose the race. 

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Leah

More Words of Wisdom to Discover

Read 2 Timothy 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Credits: 

• Each coaster is handmade and, hopefully, UPlifting! 🙏🏽 Thank you in advance for your patronage.

• Photo of tortoise by Joel M. Matthey.
• Cup from my mother’s kitchen cabinet.