Have you ever noticed when you are frantically searching for something, you rarely find it?

Stop looking. What you are looking for may just find you. Short story to reflect during holidays.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer and his most prized possession was family heirloom – pocket watch. The farmer carried the watch with him every day to the farm, he was distressed when he lost the watch. It was late evening and the light was fading fast.

The farmer went back to the village and gathered all the older kids and sought their help to scour every inch of his farm, he promised to reward them with chocolates if they help him find the watch.

The youngest was Jack who was 8 years old, wanted to join the search party but the farmer politely declined his help and asked him to stay back but promised to buy him chocolates.

Off they went to the fields, they searched frantically everywhere for more than an hour but could not find it at all. The light was fading and the farmer was forced to end the search for the day and trudged back to the village with the kids.

Jack was patiently waiting for the search party, he pleaded to give him an opportunity. Persistence paid off, the farmer allowed him to search for 5 minutes and no more.

Lo and behold, Jack returned with the pocket watch within 5 minutes, the entire search party was stunned into silence. The farmer just about managed to get a word out of his mouth - How?

Jack’s response –"I just went to the middle of the farm and sat down quietly, I could hear the clock ticking, I just followed the sound and found the watch"

Notes to self:

Good ideas do not come with labels, they can come from any one, from any where at any time.

There are times when you will have to stand still against the run of the play to run faster and eventually win the race. Play the long game.

Wishing all of you happy holidays and happy and healthy new year.

Rest, reflect and take it easy until new year


Title inspired by Sahil Bloom's paradox of life

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