RE: Misconception: Slow and Steady Wins the Race ! - Aesop's fables .
First you must define the race that you are talking about and what the goal of that race involves ;)
I was a long distance runner in High School and I can tell you that running my race was a lot different than the way that the boys running the 100 meter races ran in their events. Imagine trying to run a marathon at sprinter pace!
What I consider to be a winning life is far different from what most people in the world would consider a prize winning effort. That is because the majority of people think of winning purely from a materialistic viewpoint. But the prize that I have striven for is true love, lasting peace, contentment, hope for the future, and the feeling of accomplishment. I have found all of these things without having to live fast or furious, nor have I always been accurate as I'm a man prone to mistakes and miscalculations. But I believe that I have lived life well by putting others first and desiring all the best for the people that I know and interrelate with in life. When we put others first it is then that we are rewarded with the things that truly have meaning and that are more than some momentary medal or trophy that is soon forgotten.
So my advice to everyone is to define your race and set your goals accordingly. But make sure that those goals are what is really best for you and that it includes things that have value that can not be quantified materialistically.
What a lovely perspective, @deaconlee. I admit, I probably like it because I share it. Your comment that goals should include "things that have value that can not be quantified materialistically" (like seeing beauty, enjoying nature, experiencing love and joy, keeping our families safe, staying healthy, being happy - for starters) is the basis for true sustainability. When the language of value goes beyond financial and material vocabulary, then we have more ways to connect with each other and to respect our natural surroundings because we are conscious of intrinsic, but probably unquantifiable, value.
Thank you @kiligirl, I hope that you understand that I was in no way trying to down this good blog . My intention was to simply point out another perspective and a slightly different outlook for what might be considered "winning." We are all playing the game, but how we score it can be vastly different. Of course my position is biased because I have never had many things of materialistic value lol.
Same here, @deaconlee! I was (and am still) under the impression that @khatisam4 was trying to get discussion going on the topic, and I think he raised some interesting and valid points.
My perspective, like yours, is also biased, towards a balance of "capitals" (financial, manufactured, intellectual, human, social and natural). Flat out financial winning can lead to a lack of balance in the flows between those capitals, if we consider that under our current economic and financial systems, financial capital enables trade between those stocks of capitals.
On a more personal note, moving from Canada to South Africa twenty years ago was very much influenced by a desire for a life driven by more than material factors. 😊😊
Awesome move into a totally different environment and culture, and you seem very balanced so it must be working out well for you! :)
Thanks, @deaconlee, that's a great compliment and an especially good way to start a Friday morning! For me, it's simply about feeling "home". Perhaps because we moved from England to Canada just before I turned 6, those feelings of home were looking for somewhere to land, although I do love Canada and identify as Canadian (among other affiliations). 😊😊