The Best Horse

Many years ago, I bought a book from a small bookstore in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. The book was called Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryi Suzuki and cost $2.50; which at the time, seemed like a lot of money for an almost out-of-my-teens young woman living on a meager income and attending a few college courses.

I’d always felt a bit like a beginner in almost everything I did due to where I grew up –in an end of the road tiny town in northern Canada where the one movie theater received their films way past when most every other town and city in North America had viewed them. Consequently, fashions and trends were late too. So, I thought the book could help me overcome my feelings about being behind.

In the book, there’s this passage about four kind of horses: excellent ones that run perfectly in step to their rider’s will; second best ones that run almost as good as the excellent ones; the third best who will run when they feel the snap of a whip; and the worst ones that will only run after it has been flogged.

Most of us, including me, want to be like the excellent horse; always getting things right, in step with the rest of the world, admired, cherished.

The chapter goes on to describe that sometimes the best horse may be the worst horse and the worst horse might actually be the best – those who think they are the worst but always trying to be better might be the best horse.

I picked up that book the other day, feeling a little out-of-sorts with my publishing journey; wondering about next steps, indecisive about things my author friends tell me are “no brainers.”

I don’t know if it’s true or not that the worst horse can be the best horse but it sure does gladden my ole’ heart that maybe, just maybe, struggles in life are worth it.

How did you find solace this week?

Sharon

© 2021. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved