This blog post is about pain. A lot of pain, but not enough. It is the kind of pain that will inevitably save you, by inspiring you to your better self. Transformation. Sometimes it seems that without these red hot moments of inconvenience, we would go on, simply existing, and forgetting our true condition.
You’ve heard the story about the dog and the nail right? Well, either way, I’m about to tell a rough paraphrased version of it to you.
Ok, gather around boys and girls…
A man had been driving through the country on an old dusty road and was looking for somewhere to rest and stretch his legs. He had been driving for some hours and had not passed any places where he could rest and recharge.
As the sun started its decent into the afternoon the man saw in the distance a small farmhouse. As he drove closer he could see an old farmer sitting on a chair looking out into his fields.
The man, who was in need of a break decided he would pull up to the farm and see if he could rest a while. The man pulled up on the roadside and walked up the well worn driveway. When he approached the old farmer he asked if he could sit next to him and rest a while. The farmer looked up with a piece of straw in his mouth, smiled and nodded at the man.
As the man walked to take his seat next to the old farmer he noticed an old working dog lying beside the farmers legs.
Giving the dog a quick pat the man sat himself on the next chair and closed his eyes to give them a well deserved rest.
As time went by the man noticed that the dog sitting next to the farmer would suddenly howl and yelp in great pain then suddenly stop.
The dog did this 3 to 4 times in the hour he had been sitting there and finally the man looked over at the old farmer and asked, ‘why does your dog howl and yelp every now and then?’
The farmer looked down at the dog, shook his head and looked up at the man, the old farmer replied, “you see son this old dog here is lying on a nail, but its only hurts enough to yelp about”.
The man looked at the dog and wondered to himself how many things in his life hurt only enough to complain about, but not enough to do something about.
I’ve been that dog. And there are a list of reasons/excuses for being that dog:
- Laziness/Lack of motivation: Sometimes we just lack the needed work ethic.
- Distractions: Becoming distracted by short term desires, and denying what I truly wanted. (i.e Doing work I wasn’t supposed to be doing)
- Confusion: Not being crystal clear on what I’m supposed to be doing. Spending my time engaged in activities that do not align with my core values. Anyone remember what reason Tiger Woods gave for his indiscretions? (Going against your core values, losing site of them…)
I think everything we do should spring from our core values…
- Poor Health: Sometimes laziness, or any of the aforementioned reasons can simply be a attributed to a lack of water, or your wanna be tendencies towards insomnia. Health is important. It matters, and is the foundation that our physical minds, bodies, and souls are able to interact, and function at their best.
Now picture me in pain, with all of the above reasons and excuses, careening into a gas station, my gas needle below E, and my car sputtering to a stop at pump 3.
Now picture me again, groveling around the bottom of the car floor, between the seat cracks, just to scrounge up $1.88 cents in change, in order to get enough gas to make it home.
Imagine a long line behind you at the gas station, while the teller, who, mind you, is making pennies(no disrespect intended), slowly counts your money onto the counter as if to suggest you may be pulling some practical joke when you pour a handful of change unto the counter. I think to myself: No, “bruh”, I’m broke as hell, and I need to get my car home.
Then in a loud voice, he almost yells:
“$1.88 cents on pump 3″
I mutter thank you, and run out of the store. (haha…man that was embarrassing…but wonderful at the same time)
Sometimes you need to be dead broke, for a financial change to really take its hold. I know that, and other similar experiences have helped me firm up my commitment to self employment, and to doing work that matters.
As a society, many of us are feeling the pain of a much needed economic pinch right now. Many of us were doing better years ago, or getting by just enough to do anything about the “nails” in our lives.
Sometimes you need to feel the sting of under-appreciation at a job that isn’t structured to maximize or inspire your true potential. Or get the dreadful tap on your shoulder from your boss, inviting you to one of those “special meetings.” You know the ones where they bring you your cubicle belongings, and politely ask you never to return. Now you begin to think about finding work you actually love. Or starting that small business or non profit organization.
Maybe we can only move when the need for change slaps us across the face. Its a sweet sort of pain, isn’t it? It slows you down, and after the desperation recedes, you can face yourself. You can look at the fears, or the excuses you have been making, You are now motivated and inspired to confront those paper dragons, and toothless lions. Those shadowy, pseudo giants, that have been keeping you from doing the big thing(s), and being so much more.
Let’s make it happen
- Have you felt the nails of being under-appreciated at your job?
- Have you felt the self loathing accompanied with wanting to live healthier, but totally feeling under-motivated?
- Has the reality of your finite nature touched you in the form of the loss of a close family member or relative?
Let the pain work…
Feature picture: skelter
Written by Veron Graham
Topics: Blog