I recently learned about the benefits of crawling before learning to walk. Some studies even point to late walkers being statistically smarter and- more apt students. I’ve never steered my son in the direction of the next milestone – with each advancement, he seemingly – does so-from one moment to the next- as if , he’d always been doing it.
This got me to thinking about all the forces at work that make up who we are and-how many of us qualify these attributes as advantages or-disadvantages . All of this- coupled with something else I heard recently-which I’ll get to shortly-made me think of that old story about a man whose horse runs away.
Story goes- that after his horse runs away- his neighbor stops by and tells him how unfortunate it is that he’s lost his horse. The man responds; “I don’t know if losing my horse is a good thing or a bad thing, I just know I lost my horse.”
The next day the man’s horse returns- accompanied by another horse and – again the neighbor returns touting the man’s good fortune-to which -the man responded; “I don’t know if it’s good thing or a bad thing, all I know is that I have two horses now.”
The following day the man’s son decides to ride the new horse but-inexperienced with this horses temperament -falls and breaks his leg. And-again – the neighbor returns wishing to commiserate with the man-but, in his usual fashion-the man responds; “I don’t know if it’s a good thing or-a bad thing, all I know is that-he fell down and broke his leg.”
Then-finally- war broke out and every eligible young man was required to enlist-with the exception of the man’s son – on account of the broken leg.
In every one of life’s situations- context invariably changes its desirability. Yet, everything is in a constant state of flux – so, objectively- from that perspective -it seems a little silly to qualify. Mostly though- we can not help but- react. Takes practice and- for myself – regularly mediating- which, sometimes, even allows me just a few moments of objectivity.
Years ago – before our current understanding of childhood development and all the accompanying research-it was hailed as advanced to be an early walker. Without supposing all the things crawling was doing to build up neural networks in a baby’s developing brain, strengthening their core-along with- their problem solving abilities and-so on.
Which brings us back to that something I heard recently. Last week – a friend of mine took a trip to Mexico City with a companion I have never met. I asked how they’d come to know each other . It was while she and -her then boyfriend- had a disagreement, while away on vacation so, they decided to split ways for the day.
That day she met a friend that would eventually invite her on a trip to Mexico. I’m quite sure that at the time – she qualified the dispute as being a sour turn of events but-fast forward to present time- and-I’m also sure that the fight is no longer of any consequence -while she enjoys her time – as I’ve heard , basking in hot springs across the border.
At times it’s difficult to accept life’s offerings -but- if one were to expand outward, eventually, it would start to make sense.
There are currently many learned men and women-in the field of quantum physics- setting up the improbable calculations of this- our planet and all life-coming to be, by chance. What they’ve found is that it’s a razors edge of probability that makes it virtually impossible.
In other words – it’s highly unlikely this all came to be by mere chance. And – if that is truly the case well-we are not exempt of this order.
As the great teachers have said before us “as above – so below “
