little book big reminder

Children’s books have simple messages. These books have the ability to break things down to its most common denominator and make concepts or lessons easy to digest. It’s this simplicity that is refreshing to read even if it’s not for me but, for my girls before bed each night. At times, I find myself taking a little tidbit for myself, or realizing that I haven’t done ‘that’ in a while and maybe I should. Sometimes we just need a reminder in basic print to take stock for ourselves. Or, in Zen Shorts case, a bigger concept—letting go.

We all have things we hold on to—good and bad—and as a section of this book reminds us, we can’t move forward unless we make the choice to put our baggage down. A real-life notion found in the pages of a little book told in a very eloquent way. We all know we have things we hold on to yet, we all need a little reminder to stop holding on so tight, even if it’s from a Panda named Stillwater. I hope you too might take stock in these simple words, let go of that little thing, or things, that you’re holding on to, unnecessarily, and just move forward—put it to bed! 

Excerpt from ZEN SHORTS by Jon J. Muth
A Heavy Load

Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep puddles and she couldn’t step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there, looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants. They had nowhere to place the packages they held for her, so they couldn’t help her across the puddle.
 
The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn’t thank the older monk, she just shoved him out of the way and departed.
 
As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “That woman back there was selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn’t even thank you!”
 
“I set the woman down hours ago,“ the older monk replied. “Why are you still carrying her?”

​Not a bad reminder, right?
Because honestly, every moment you spend holding on to something from your past takes away from crushing today's work and living out your bigger dreams. Just saying...