I’ve heard this story many times and always liked it.

 A wise farmer owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day the mare disappeared. The villagers, sympathising with him for his loss said Oh what bad luck you’ve had!   The farmer shrugged and replied: Good luck, bad luck. Who knows? Several days later, the farmer’s mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion.

The villagers congratulated the farmer for his good fortune saying Oh what good luck you have!  The farmer again shrugged his shoulders and said: Good luck, bad luck. Who knows?

One day shortly after, the farmer’s only son while trying to ride the stallion was thrown off and broke his leg. The villagers again remarked (similarly to that propensity to comment incessantly on the weather) Oh what bad luck you have!  Who will help you?

The farmer, as was his wont, shrugged and commented: Good luck, bad luck. Who knows? Not long after, war broke out and all the young men of the village except the farmer’s lame son were drafted and killed in battle. The village people were amazed at the farmer’s good luck. But the farmer simply gave the same reply: Good luck, bad luck. Who knows?

Like many people I’ve had experiences, which , at first glance seemed bad or even disastrous, but, over time, turned out to be the best thing ever. I remember being devastated a few years ago when I was made redundant.  I had just moved to London and been in my new job about three months when the company got into financial difficulty and, as a new recruit, I was one of the first to be let go. As it happened, it turned out great. I ended up getting a job with a French company which allowed me to work in Paris (which I’d always wanted to do) and London.

 

Of course it’s important to consciously make choices and take decisions; however, it’s probably equally relevant to remember that it’s all an unfolding story which you participate in but aren’t  necessarily in control of. And overall, things often have the happy knack of righting themselves and often turning out better than before in ways it’s impossible to envisage!

 

Image credit  atoach