Good Luck or Bad Luck

Recently, my friend shared this Zen koan with me and I  enjoyed the perspective and thought you might as well.

Once upon the time there was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away.

Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. “Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“Perhaps,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. “What great luck!” the neighbors exclaimed.

“Perhaps,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“Perhaps,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“Perhaps,” said the farmer…

What I love about this story is the reminder that  life’s perspectives are all subjective and that we can keep grounded in the “good” and the “bad”.

What are your thoughts? Please share, I would love to hear from you.