“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.
________________________
A Giant Oak stood tall near a brook where there were some slender Reeds.
Many times, the wind blew, and the Oak stood proudly upright where the Reeds bent with the wind. “You are weak,” said the Oak, “stand up straight.”
But, the Reeds quietly endured.
Then, a great storm came. The Oak proudly fought, while the Reeds bent yielding. And, for it all, the Oak broke in half, but the Reeds endured.
Moral of the Story: Yield to cooperation when it is folly to resist. Sometimes the ultimate strength of a thing can be found in its suppleness.
________________________
Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Articles: Compromise and Pride – No. 5. The Two Goats – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series; Bearing Insults – No. 7. The Bear and the Bees – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series
________________________
Why We Loved It: Aesop reminds us that it is a natural condition to react with resistance, but not necessarily the thoughtful condition. As thoughtful beings, we are reminded that not every challenge is worthy of resistance and that thoughtful flexibility reconciles otherwise adverse conditions.
Water is a powerful force when necessary, but it gets to its goal by first flowing around contention.
Flow where required, force where necessary, but it takes a thoughtful choice.
[MUID75X]
© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/thoughtful-flexibility-23-oak-reeds-essential-aesop-zegarelli-esq-
GRZ98_23 GRZUID98_23