The title of this blog post, is in fact an ancient Chinese proverb. As of late I've found great wisdom in these little proverbs. And even some comfort in them i must admit. You see, over the thousands of years that there has been literate peoples, people have thought of the same things, felt the same things, and done the same things many times.
The Rat and cat are both metaphors, and can be applied to any person, or thing, that correspond with the cat's tail, which is a metaphor in itself of course for any issue problem, item, thing, person, place, that the "rat" shouldn't mess with, worry about, ask about, use, break, or look at or any other action with. That being said, it is much like the old saying of "be careful what you ask for, as you may just get it"
In our personal lives we all face many trials. Some we deserve, some we don't. Many times we're both the rat, and the cat. To this I ask you, is it in fact better to be the rat, gnawing at the cat's tail, attempting to find out, what we don't really want to know? Is it better to live oblivious to whatever wrath the cat will dish out, from us biting its tail, or is it better to actually gnaw at that tail, and get that wrath, because you at least know whatever it was, and can then move on from there? Perhaps these are the questions we should ask before we gnaw on that tail. Perhaps it is better to know not what you ask, or suspect, because whatever it is you ask or suspect if you are right on your hunches, will signal the end of whatever it is your inquiring about? One must remember even the end of one thing however, does not mean all things stop, but rather it means the beginning of something else. So by the end / beginning cycle, maybe it is better to be that rat, gnawing.
Me? well I don't know. I've always thought i was a good middle ground, even keel person. I'd rather not know some things, due to the hurt it may inflict inside me. At the same time though, sometimes I'd just like to know to get it over with. What is right or wrong on these decisions is entirely of course subject based. I by no means am a perfect man. I try to keep a word once given. I've been told by many I'm too nice, and i get taken advantage of. Maybe that is why i don't play the rat as much as some others. I know many folks who go headstrong into things, and sometimes it really works for them, they solve the issue and it goes away... but many times it doesn't. Many times it just makes more heartache and pain for that person. don't rock the boat you sit in, or you may just capsize.
Does my quietness signal weakness? does it mean that i don't care? quite the opposite i feel. I feel a wise man thinks before he acts... a wise man keeps a word given, be it in business, home, or love. Loyalty, is held in high regard in my eyes. These all are reasons I do not like being the rat. The rat, however, never learns these things, and thus gnaws on the tail of the cat, who guards his friends, family, and loves, with fierce and formidable weapons. My loyalty should not be taken as a weakness either. It is a strength that will repay me 1000 fold to those who truly care. For those i am loyal to, will return it when it counts i feel. I hope that is not something that will ever be tested however.
At Times one thinks that confrontation solves things, at other times, one thinks confrontation does nothing but cause more issues. I guess I end up being one to be more the glass is half full person (which is strange to hear myself say, as I've traditionally been cynical, and sarcastic of wit) which means I'm one to avoid the confrontation if at all possible... I also think it is better to be that way, because words can cut deeper than knives, and often leave wounds that never heal. So if I'm the rat, and I'm gonna gnaw on that cat's tail, i must remember that what that cat may say, may hurt me more, longer, than any swatting that cat would have or could have done. Thus in my role as a rat, I would prefer you to simply hand me some cheese, and allow me to nibble on it in the corner... and keep your tail to yourself, thus keeping the pain of the cats destruction far away from my fragile little heart.... At times however, some cat's tails are big enough that they must be gnawed, and in doing so, destroying the rat, the cat, and the tail all together, so that the cat and the rat can reform into equals, and thus have no problems at all....
The Rat and cat are both metaphors, and can be applied to any person, or thing, that correspond with the cat's tail, which is a metaphor in itself of course for any issue problem, item, thing, person, place, that the "rat" shouldn't mess with, worry about, ask about, use, break, or look at or any other action with. That being said, it is much like the old saying of "be careful what you ask for, as you may just get it"
In our personal lives we all face many trials. Some we deserve, some we don't. Many times we're both the rat, and the cat. To this I ask you, is it in fact better to be the rat, gnawing at the cat's tail, attempting to find out, what we don't really want to know? Is it better to live oblivious to whatever wrath the cat will dish out, from us biting its tail, or is it better to actually gnaw at that tail, and get that wrath, because you at least know whatever it was, and can then move on from there? Perhaps these are the questions we should ask before we gnaw on that tail. Perhaps it is better to know not what you ask, or suspect, because whatever it is you ask or suspect if you are right on your hunches, will signal the end of whatever it is your inquiring about? One must remember even the end of one thing however, does not mean all things stop, but rather it means the beginning of something else. So by the end / beginning cycle, maybe it is better to be that rat, gnawing.
Me? well I don't know. I've always thought i was a good middle ground, even keel person. I'd rather not know some things, due to the hurt it may inflict inside me. At the same time though, sometimes I'd just like to know to get it over with. What is right or wrong on these decisions is entirely of course subject based. I by no means am a perfect man. I try to keep a word once given. I've been told by many I'm too nice, and i get taken advantage of. Maybe that is why i don't play the rat as much as some others. I know many folks who go headstrong into things, and sometimes it really works for them, they solve the issue and it goes away... but many times it doesn't. Many times it just makes more heartache and pain for that person. don't rock the boat you sit in, or you may just capsize.
Does my quietness signal weakness? does it mean that i don't care? quite the opposite i feel. I feel a wise man thinks before he acts... a wise man keeps a word given, be it in business, home, or love. Loyalty, is held in high regard in my eyes. These all are reasons I do not like being the rat. The rat, however, never learns these things, and thus gnaws on the tail of the cat, who guards his friends, family, and loves, with fierce and formidable weapons. My loyalty should not be taken as a weakness either. It is a strength that will repay me 1000 fold to those who truly care. For those i am loyal to, will return it when it counts i feel. I hope that is not something that will ever be tested however.
At Times one thinks that confrontation solves things, at other times, one thinks confrontation does nothing but cause more issues. I guess I end up being one to be more the glass is half full person (which is strange to hear myself say, as I've traditionally been cynical, and sarcastic of wit) which means I'm one to avoid the confrontation if at all possible... I also think it is better to be that way, because words can cut deeper than knives, and often leave wounds that never heal. So if I'm the rat, and I'm gonna gnaw on that cat's tail, i must remember that what that cat may say, may hurt me more, longer, than any swatting that cat would have or could have done. Thus in my role as a rat, I would prefer you to simply hand me some cheese, and allow me to nibble on it in the corner... and keep your tail to yourself, thus keeping the pain of the cats destruction far away from my fragile little heart.... At times however, some cat's tails are big enough that they must be gnawed, and in doing so, destroying the rat, the cat, and the tail all together, so that the cat and the rat can reform into equals, and thus have no problems at all....
I don't think quietness is a weakness. Sometimes if you are quiet it can mean your observing things or people around you. I found that if you sit back and watch and listen you can figure people out.
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