WISDOM OF THE AGES

Being wise is being able to transform information and knowledge into conclusions and act accordingly. The wise one has the ability to see into the future, by drawing conclusions based on his experience and knowledge from the past. Hence his actions will have the awareness of the past, understanding of the present, and knowledge of how today's decisions will impact on the future.


The same applies to our sport. Our experience and wisdom can and should teach us to draw conclusions and to know the consequences of our actions.
When I was much younger I was taught, "If you can not think of something good to say about someone then say nothing". Perhaps the following timely post on the Pigeon Mailing List is the source of that wisdom.

The post was also an awakening for me with realization that I at times have chosen to ignored the lesson.

The triple filter test

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?" "Hold on a minute," Socrates replied.  "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test.  It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple Filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued.  "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say.  That's why I call it the Triple Filter Test. The first filter is Truth.  Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said.  "Actually I just heard about it and......."

"All right," said Socrates.  "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of goodness.  Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary ........"

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true.  You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of usefulness.  Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"


Have you ever noticed that those who seem to revel in calling other's names always select a word  that describes themselves?  Most criticism is rooted in jealousy.  Instead of retaliation it should be seen as a complement. Allowing you to walk away from the source  with a smile.

Who hasn't heard ? "Do unto other's as you would have them do unto to you" Or the Native American saying; "Walk a mile another man's moccasins before you criticize him" We live in a world of personalities,  Allowing someone  to be who they are and not making their problem yours is a key to your peace of mind. The time used to criticize anyone else would be better applied with self improvement.
A vacationing business man was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy was walked slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.

The business man, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, "I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?" The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, "It makes a difference to that one."
 

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots, but it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape

"Peace comes within the souls of men,
when they realize their oneness with the Universe,
when they realize it is really everywhere...
it is within each one of us."

Back Elk, Lakota Medicine Man