Here is an old parable that you probably have heard before, but I think it bears repeating. I just read Pank's most recent post, and it caused me to think of this story:A scorpion, not being able to swim, asked a turtle to carry him on his back across a river. "Are you insane???" exclaimed the turtle. "You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown."
"My dear turtle," laughed the scorpion, "if I were to sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Now where is the logic in that???"
"You're right!!!" agrees the turtle. "Hop on!!!" The scorpion carefully climbs on the turtle's head and they embark. Halfway across the river the scorpion gives the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle cries out:
"You fool!!! Now we will both surely die!!! Why did you do that???"
The drowning scorpion replied "It's just my character."
People can change their character, but they have to really want to, and what I most often see is that most people aren't sufficiently motivated. Go into your relationships with your eyes open; if you can accept the way the other person's character is and look past their shortcomings, go ahead. If you cannot, you should distance yourself from that person.
10 comments:
Oh yes! I've learned this lesson through experience, but Aye, wasn't it beaver in the story who showed compassion for scorpion? Beaver has the soft underbelly.
While in the agony of my own story, a dear friend told me that beaver could have ask turtle to help the scorpion. Turtle couldn't be hurt by scorpion's nature because of turtle's hard outer shell.
In my own story I was a never-give-up hard head until I sank under the water, my crackhead crustacean drifted down stream...such is the nature of lessions. I still have hope that scorpion finds a way to cross the river.
Cool story. I get it.
I get it too.. Great story Aye
wow hahahah I just read all that back and I sound like a ^&%$# lunatic LOL!!!!!!
Interesting story...VERY..
Good morning, If you feel so inclined to delete my ramblings...i will be most grateful dear Aye. This comment of mine may filter through and I regret writing it.
My head is clearer Seren, helped me to get the message. "If you know someone would sting you, you certainly wouldn't trust them with your life."
Wow, very cool. I think that's it! Thanks Seren!. Aye, your very wise, my friend.
Thank you
Now for that delete button? TMI was I. Hope you understand.
: )
I hope everyone learns from this great story Aye, I sure have.
fpnrec: forgiving people need respect equally compassionately
Well, this post has certainly generated some comments, hasn't it??? I have much to answer here now (and one comment that has a delete request, got to figure out how to do that, now... it'll be my first comment delete)
Susan, I couldn't remember if it was a frog or a turtle, but now that I've heard beaver suggested, that would work, too. I mean, who doesn't like a beaver??? LOL!!! The turtle does have his (or her, this fable is equally applicable to either gender) protection, but if whatever critter you prefer to use in the story makes the CHOICE (against their better judgement, as clearly stated at the start of the story) to put themselves in that veunerable position... the story ends exactly the way that anyone could see coming.
That Susan still has compassion after being stung is a testament to the largeness of her heart, and a prime example of the moral of this story, I think: Her nature is to be compassionate to others, and to wish no ill will to them in spite of having been stung. If she indeed has learned this lesson, though, you can bet your ass she's staying well clear of that stinger!!!
Lilly and Serenity get it. I have a feeling that its from experence that they understand, because that is how many a hard lesson are learned. Would they do things differently in the same situation again??? Maybe. Could be their nature and character to do just that. However, if they see an old famililar pattern emerging, I hope that they will proceed with caution, knowing full well that there is a stinger full of venomous poison to be wary of.
Pank, who got me thinking of this story to begin with: Thanks for gettting a rather compelling exchange going here!!! Is the psychological abuse (to call a spade a spade) something new??? Or is this latest vicious cruelty just the ordinary course of action, something that you have seen or been on the receiving end of so many times that you can't remember them all??? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I imagine the latter to be the case. Then why would you be suprised by such a thing at this point??? Perhaps suprised isn't what is really happening at all, though, more likely it was the hurt of the fresh sting that you were feeling. I think we all feel your pain and hate that this happened to you. Is it a deal breaker, though, where you will cut ties or greatly diminish the contact??? That is your choice, but you already know the nature and character that you are dealing with. Be wary of that stinger, and ever vigilant, ready to pull back into your shell.
I'm glad that Serenity was able to help with your understanding, although I will ammend a little to the conclusion: Not all stings are mortally wounding. Many can just be dreadfully painful. If you know in advance, from past experence or seeing that person's interactions with someone else (or from having been around another person with eeriely similar charteristics, even, I suppose), go in knowing the risks. If the risks are acceptable, proceed with caution, being ever vigilant. Or proceed not at all if the risks are overwhelming. Damn, that sounds like a politican's line or something!!!
In the story, the scorpion is the one with the predictable nature. In this case, it is to his (and those in his vicinity) detriment, but I think any one of us could be the scorpion. Your nature and character, that which other people see in you and can predict you acting in accordance with, can be either positive or negative. Being compassonate is a good thing; being a mark as such by people who would take advantage of your nature is a bad thing. Being cruel and unrelenting is a bad thing; being a cruel and unrelenting prosecuting attorney is a good thing, if I hired you!!!
Very wise am Aye??? Much of my wisdom is borrowed, from wiser than I, I think. I think its more that I have a memory like an elephant, and have a knack for regurgitating an appropriate little nugget at an oppritune time. Prime example was the "shock the monkey " post I did a while ago, I heard it once, years and years ago, and posted my recollection of it as needed. Here's another one that seems like it may be apropos to your situation:
We have two chances to have a good parent-child relationship. The first one we have little control over. Make the most of the second one.
VFZYSZS = Very fuzzy zerps yell something zestfully sensous
Cripes Aye are you sure you are a male? Only kidding LOL...your too smart! Thank you very much for deleting that. I know that post striked a thought in you and it is great for everyone to read and learn. My pain was fresh, real so I related and felt safe enough to share that with you all. I love to learn and want to so much more in my life. Thank you.
This sting was extremely painful because it was done so out of left field and sneaky. (the manner in which was used was not the norm) I can't explain more. It would have to be deleted. LOL!
Anyway dear, when a person has done something for me so extrodinarily kind in the past...(took me in.. baby-out of wedlock) I spend a lifetime, thanking them, being loyal to them....over compensating. Although, there has been years of breaks in between.
I have only had one other person do something unbelievably kind for me. Ha! woe is me...just kidding. I know this in myself, it's an issue I'm working on....still.
ha!
I hope some day I can help you all with kind wise words. And I am so sorry we all seem to have been stung by a scorpion in life. Some more than others. That's how we all learn though....or not?
I vote Aye for president!
(you would make a great politician)
shpje: Shoopie, hoopie, poopie, joopie e-loopie
LMAO I need help!
hahaha
Hip hip for beaver! Hahahaha!
"...who doesn't like beaver?" LMAO!
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