Fate: the accident of birth of growing to 6 feet, 8 inches tall

It was a never-ending waste of time to engage in the internal discussion of nature versus nurture when trying to rationalize my own accomplishments and failures. It invariably resulted in either extreme pride, self-pity, or paralyzing dread. In my opinion, it is more beneficial to concentrate on a single issue at a time rather than becoming preoccupied with the larger picture, the past, the future, or even the events that are occurring right now.  In accordance with the teachings of Zen, "When cutting the onion, just cut the onion."

 

It was a never-ending waste of effort to justify my own triumphs and failures through an internal nature vs. nurture argument. It almost always resulted in conceit, self-pity, or overwhelming terror. In my opinion, it's preferable to concentrate on one thing at a time rather than being fixated on the broader picture, the past, the future, or even the present. The Zen teaching goes, "When cutting the onion, just cut the onion."

 

** 

 In accordance with the teachings of Zen, "When cutting the onion, just cut the onion."

APAD: Accident of Birth

 

來源: 7grizzly 於 2024-03-02 08:41:23 [檔案] [博客] [舊帖] [給我悄悄話] 本文已被閱讀： 4701 次 (6008 bytes)

字體：調大/重置/調小 | 加入書簽 | 打印 | 所有跟帖 | 加跟貼 | 當前最熱討論主題

Meaning: the consequence of the circumstances into which a person is born.

 

For example, a prince will probably have a different life to a pauper or an

Inuit to a Kalahari bushman. The term may also be applied to some innate talent

that a person has by virtue of the DNA they inherited from their parents. For

example, "LeBron James's success at basketball was, in part, due to the accident

of birth of growing to 6 feet, 8 inches tall.".

 

    - Gary Martin, https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/accident-of-birth.html

    

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The inner debate of nature-vs-nurture in rationalizing my own successes and

failures was a perennial waste of time. It invaribly led to hubris, self-pity,

or paralyzing fear. For me, it's better to focus on one thing at a time without

obsessing about the big picture, the past, the future, or even current

circumstances. As Zen teaches: "When cutting the onion, just cut the onion."您的位置： 文學城 » 論壇 » 美語世界 » APAD: Accident of Birth

所有跟帖： 

• Accept ourselves and believe everything we have is the best -盈盈一笑間-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:43:17

• It's a lesson we have to learn throughout our lives. -盈盈一笑間-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:43:59

• Yes. After many dangers, toils, and snares. I enjoy growing. -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (0 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:08:27

• 覺得這是一個哲學問題。e.g. I started at about age 7 to ask myself -最西邊的島上-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:46:22

• this question: why I'm in this body, not some other one? -最西邊的島上-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:47:41

• still don't know the answer today, but have accepted my fate -最西邊的島上-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:49:04

• the question had been bothering me for many years ... -最西邊的島上-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:55:56

• Ditto and I finally gave up trying to figure it out :-))) -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:06:25

• 讚， 不僅學習了 new proverb。還學習了新詞。 -天邊一片白雲-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:14:36

• perennial waste of time， hubris, paralyzing fear. -天邊一片白雲-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:15:16

• Thanks. It’s learning for me, too. -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (0 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:20:26

• "When cutting the onion, just cut the onion". Good one. -天邊一片白雲-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:18:32

• 我有幾次切菜切破手都是因為腦子裏在想亂七八糟的東西。 -天邊一片白雲-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:20:43

• Good to know I was not alone:-)) -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (0 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:23:33

• learned that from Michael Pollan, a food writer. -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:22:25

• 很多人隻讚揚Trump很年輕就取得巨大成就，沒有提他爹直接貸給他1M啟動資金，其實他爹還是時代的開創者創造了地產大環境 -移花接木-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:45:27

• 都是拍馬屁的:-))) 好像中國也有領導人子女自稱白手起家，自力更生的. -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 12:57:59

• The west accuse the Chinese of atavism. -7grizzly-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 12:58:55

• 含著金鑰匙出生：） -妖妖靈-    (0 bytes) (0 reads) 03/03/2024 postreply 08:57:23