Words that caught us: What would you like your kids to know? (Part 10)

 

‘Then what?’

That’s the key question.

 

Most often, we end up in trouble

Either because we don’t ask the question,

Or, if we do, we don’t know the answer,

Or, ignore it all together.

 

You probably have already heard,

Of the famous conversation,

Between a local fisherman

And an MBA graduate.

 

This freshly minted MBA

Couldn’t understand,

Why the fisherman was idling around,

Napping his afternoons,

Drinking and chatting with friends,

When he could be busy fishing

And making more money.

 

But this was a wise old soul.

He kept the big picture, front and close.

‘Then what?’ He asked.

Having more money means

You can afford more luxuries,

Comforts and conveniences.

‘Then what?’ He persisted.

And buy you time

To relax and enjoy life,

With family and friends.

And this wise old soul laughed the MBA off,

For that’s exactly what he was doing –

Relaxing and enjoying life

With his family and friends.

 

And that’s what we often forget –

To ask, ‘then what?’

 

If you do, you’ll realize

You are human, and others are human too,

You are immensely blessed,

You have a soul and a conscience,

Your life has purpose and meaning,

You are not too old to change,

You are not too late to start,

You are love

You can be kinder

More patient

More resilient

And more compassionate.

 

That’s because these are

Some of the answers you get,

When you ask ‘then what?’

 

‘If something is worth doing,

It’s worth knowing why we’re doing it.’

And 'if you are not taking the long view of it

You are [definitely] doing it wrong.’

Always ask: 'Then what?'

*Quotes by Ozan Varol and Ben Casnocha