Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Ancient Chinese Proverb

“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”

― Lao Tzu, Tao Teh Ching

I take that quote to mean, when you are doing the thing that is making you better, you don’t have whole piles of time to yak on about it!

I’m writing this as maybe a bit of tough love for some of the other blogs I read. I am aware of the irony in using a quote like that and then rambling on, so clearly you can take this with a grain or two of salt.

But.

I read a few blog were things are always *about* to happen. “I’m *going* to do this.” “I *will* bring change into my life.” “In the *future* I will make better choices!”

The problem with many of these blogs is that those promises go unfulfilled. Over and over again.

Many of the blogs that I really *enjoy* reading are about what has happened, or the excitement leading to an event and then the details of that event.

“I did all this at the gym today!” “I can do headstands!” “I tried running 3k, but couldn’t make it, I will try again!

What makes me like these latter blogs is not the success of the writer, but the evident meaning and effort of the writer. The people that know they are pushing for their goals (and it just happens I read a lot of fitness related blogs) don’t seem to typically inform their readers of every little nuance of their plan each day or week. They speak about overarching goals, and the daily talk is about all their attempts, successes and once in a while a failure and how they will immediately right it, not accept it as it is. These blogs revel in spreading the word about the effort put in.

The former blogs go on about how hard it is, how they might have failed but they are ok with that, the tiny details of things that are looking for other people to build them up, not with the high fives and back slaps of success and sharing in victory, but in the pat on the back and reassurance that they are still a good person.

I thought this little bit might be interesting to ponder as well. I know for sure that I know some things, personal experience has taught me some hard lessons. Acting on those lessons is what is important!

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool; shun him.

He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a child; teach him.

He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him.

He who knows and knows that he knows is wise; follow him.

~ Persian Proverb

1 comment:

  1. Hi Chris! So crazy that we wrote about the exact same thing on the same day--and this is unique stance we share. I actually follow the Persian proverb quite well: I shun those blogs of unsuccessful people authoritatively giving out really bad weight loss advice that never worked for them. Honestly, it would NOT hurt them to be weight-loss students for a while and to learn something that could help them do better.

    Totally agree with it all--Star Trek mind meld.

    :-) Marion

    ReplyDelete