When the rich pass proudly by
on big, smooth horses,
I feel foolish
riding my scrawny donkey.I feel much better
when we overtake
a bundle of sticks
riding a bony man.Wang Fan-Chih
(590-660)
Comparison. It’s really not helpful.
It hurts to compare and fall short.
Yet to come out ahead is to carry the same burden in a different pocket.
Ahead. Behind. Either way, hooked.
You are immense. Unstoppable. Exceptional.
You are insignificant. Fragile. Ordinary.
So are the people ahead and behind.
And it doesn’t even matter.
.
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8 comments
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1 person linked hereMona - Some Like It Raw
February 10, 2011
I like when you teach me in poems, Lisa.
It speaks to the softer part of myself that needs these reminders
and can only hear them if they’re said in a way that is “just so.”
xoxo
Twitter: @monagrayson
Michelle Russell
February 10, 2011
Mmmmm. What a delicious nugget of wisdom. Almost haiku-ish in the way that it concentrates this idea about comparison into such a small but intensely flavored snack.
Particularly, I like the part about “coming out ahead” being the same burden in a different pocket . . . so true, yet so hard to remember.
Twitter: @joyfulmess
dawn
February 10, 2011
What a beautiful post to remind us to be compassionate and tame our egos. Thanks. It’s perfect.
Twitter: @urbanhippietwst
David | Listen Feel Breathe
February 10, 2011
love it.
yes let’s not compare, but rather be happy with who we are and what we have.
Twitter: @davidLFBreathe
David Cohen
February 10, 2011
I love this. In fact, you inspired another doodle
Twitter: @davidscohen
shà„na
February 10, 2011
just the bedtime wisdom my heavy heart needs! whenever i’m sick (from flare up or flu) the tapes in my head gets stuck on, “missing life”, “life is passing you by” “people are passing you by”
thanks love, for being here!
Twitter: @shanaphoto
Kylie
February 13, 2011
“Ahead. Behind. Either way, hooked.”
So very true. Thank you for the reminder. I often need one.
And thank you for the poem. How wonderful is that phrase “a bundle of sticks riding a bony man”.
Twitter: @KylieAndersen
Ruben Berenguel
February 15, 2011
Just let go. Don’t look ahead nor behind, just sit in the moment and breathe.
Cheers,
Ruben
Twitter: @berenguel
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