Have you every heard the saying, “Slow and steady wins the race?”

I’d honestly be more surprised if you haven’t. You might’ve even first heard it when you were told the story of The Tortoise and the Hare.

And as much as I love telling stories, I won’t be telling that one today as there’s actually another folklore tale that originates from Polynesia that tells a similar story. This time, it doesn’t just share the idea of working slow, rather, working with the natural rhythm around you.

Many years ago in a small oceanside village, there was an old man who would sail out every morning and fish for the townspeople.

One evening during his return home, the sea started to turn rough. Whitecaps began to form. And the waves grew large and powerful.

The old man had never seen a storm like this before. He turned the wheel and moved the sail, but nothing seemed to work.

Suddenly, he was thrown across his boat and struck the railing. Looking down into the rough storm below, he saw something.

Right next to his boat, he saw a sea turtle swimming gracefully in the ocean. It wasn’t being thrown around, twisted or turned, it was just gliding and working with the waves.

The old man then had an idea. He raced over to his ship’s wheel and started following the turtle. Turning left and right when it did. Some waves he went over. Others he didn’t. Until, he found himself on the shoreline of the home he thought he’d never see again. It took time, but he made it with his life.

The story shares a lesson a little more meaningful than the one we were taught back in elementary school. That yes, going slow is powerful. But that you shouldn’t fight against life. That sometimes, accepting what life throws at you and going with the storm will lead you to a place you’ve been wanting to go all along.

You just have to be willing to take the time, accept the risk, and be willing to ride out the storm.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m still in the middle of reading Imperfect by Brené Brown. A book on embracing ones flaws and daring to be authentic to yourself.

Quote Of The Week - “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” — Allen Saunders