Angela Zomaya

For my second post in this series about personal growth and character, I’m reminded of an old fable by the Greek philosopher Aesop:

Most of us are familiar with the story of the the tortoise and the hare that challenged each other to a race. While the smug, self-assured hare was holed up taking a power nap halfway down the track, the tortoise kept pressing on, quietly leaving the hare behind. The moral of the story: “slow and steady wins the race.” 

I’m not sure I ever fully understood the true meaning of this tale as a kid, other than to do my absolute best at absolutely everything lest someone else inevitably come to take my place (hello, impostor syndrome!). In other words, don’t be the hare.

Today, I see it differently. It’s not about competition. Both characters eventually crossed the finish line, but one with remarkably more grace and composure. Perhaps the real lesson here is not about “winning” or passing up the next person. It’s about patience, persistence and diligence. Instead of wasting her time thinking about what the hare was doing, the tortoise kept moving, slowly and steadily, towards her goal.

I’m not exactly sure if a stressed-out millennial was what old Aesop had in mind when he first told this story, and one could argue that there are many meanings to it. However, what I’m learning is that slowing down to focus on doing what is truly important has a much more satisfying result than clumsily seeking out instant gratification.

When I stop to look back at the things I have accomplished, I realize that no major goal of mine was ever met hastily. Good things take time, and they are usually worth it.

One thing I’ve learned: it’s okay to go slow. Just don’t stop moving.