She lay in the grass, eyes toward the sky feeling the soft slightly damp earth beneath her. She did not remember how long she had been lying there thoughts drifting along with the clouds. Had it been minutes, hours, or perhaps days? Somehow, it no longer mattered. She had just decided to stop. The relentless forward movement and the frenetic pace – she was over it. The others had passed her by unaware of her decision as they continued to press on with increasing force in pursuit of …the carrot.
Like them, she had wanted that carrot too. It had haunted her days and nights dangling from that blasted string. So often she had been so close and as she stretched forth her hands to capture her prize, it moved once again. Then today suddenly, she had simply stopped reaching for it. She had not planned to stop but in one split second had simply made the decision. As the crowd thinned around her, she sat, and then lay in the grass listening to the stillness, allowing the quiet to engulf her.
Conditioned to covet the carrot she had forsaken all others in pursuit of the prize. After all EVERYONE wants the carrot. So, for years as it dangled just out of reach she kept moving toward it with a laser sharp focus. She stepped over piles of manure and around boulders as kept the carrot in focus. Often the prize dangled closer and she stretched to capture it only to have it move once again.
The day she stopped, she realized they were wrong. She did not want the carrot at all. In fact, capturing the carrot would have been a huge disappointment. Her brows knit in a furrow as she thought of their ploy. Without thinking, she had been lured into a senseless maze by something she truly did not desire. She shook her head and arose from her spot on the grass. With a deep breath, she turned and walked in the other direction. She finally knew what she wanted and it was not that carrot.
The age-old carrot and stick metaphor originated with the tale of a boy who used a carrot and stick to keep a donkey moving forward. The carrot hung just out of reach, a desired reward that encouraged the animal to keep moving forward. The reward kept moving and so did the donkey.
Have you ever found yourself in pursuit of a carrot only to discover it is not really what you wanted? What did you do?
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In my own life, I’ve had several chances to nab the carrots placed before me. I’ve even caught a few. Each time though, I wonder just who is putting these carrots in front of me and I realize that it is always someone else.
Yet, I keep snatching at the carrots for some reason even though they’re not mine.
I suppose I should get some seeds and plant a little garden of my own. 🙂
I’m glad I caught up on this post, Karen. You did a fantastic job with the carrots!
Melissa, ah yes Myers Briggs I was an E (Extrovert) N(Intuitive) T (Thinking) and borderline P(Perceiving) which is the Visionary profile. I loved Who Moved My Cheese. Other people thought it was “cheesy” but I liked it. 😉
Ah, a wonderful post. Carrots are tasty but I prefer cheese 😉 and I only say that because for some reason, this post reminded me of the book Who Moved My Cheese? The carrot always dangles out of reach, but the cheese, that you can get.
I took the Myers-Briggs many years ago but I can’t remember what my personality type was. Those letters they assign are definitely confusing, so I wish they’d use words or something. Anyway, fascinating stuff!
Karen,
Words of wisdom beautifully written.
@ Jean, your comment was in moderation so this comes out of order, please forgive me. ROFL! Yes, yes your comment hits the proverbial nail in the head! LOL! Priceless!
@Brett, Mr. Ed totally rocked it! I think Evelyn has the right idea, we could go in the “carat” selling business and do pretty well. 🙂
@Ulla, you are so right, in work situations we have to be careful to make sure that our goals are really aligned with what we want to do, otherwise we just end up stressed out and unhappy. I know that you will make the right decision for you.
@E I have definitely experienced all of it but am learning to buy carrots at the market and let other people chase the stick! 🙂
@Friar Now if that’s a tofu dog, I’m all in! LOL! 🙂
@Evelyn, LOL! I I love your point and it brings up a deeper issue, which is the “why” of our actions. Are we really living / doing for rewards? That can be very short term and unsatisfying. It feels good for a moment but then what? Now, carats that’s a different story! 🙂
I’ve definitely gone after several carrots in my life; thinking that they are what I wanted. The chase was more exciting than getting the reward itself. Then again, the rewards were never satisfying.
Perhaps, they’ll never be. But the story may be different if it is “carats” and not “carrots” we are talking about….LOL!!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..What Enneagram Profile Type Am I?
Isn’t the lesson here that the one chasing the carrot was an ass?
Jean Gogolins last blog post..Should Politicians (or Execs) Be "Handled"?
A carrot doesn’t motivate me….I’m not into veggies that much.
But if it was a HOT DOG… 😉
Friars last blog post..The Happy-Mealer
Yeah, and have you ever been in the situation that you wanted to do something but not really and were pulled in two different directions?
Things rarely are what they seem to be. We get to the goal and think great? Now what.
Sometimes the carrots I have pursued have led to complete disillusionment.
Sorry if I have no words of wisdom today, I feel completely out of it. E
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Happy Pigs Play in the Mud
Yeah, and have you ever been in the situation that you wanted to do something but not really and were pulled in two different directions?
Things rarely are what they seem to be. We get to the goal and think great? Now what.
Sometimes the carrots I have pursued have led to complete disillusionment.
Sorry if I have no words of wisdom today, I feel completely out of it. E
Karen,
your post makes me think a lot. At the end of the year there are elections at my institution for staff representatives (In German: “Personalrat”). I am already working as a staff representative – that means I have to represent the staff’s interests versus the interests of the employer. Sometimes it is a hard job, though I am going to run for this function again. But I am asking myself: Do I do this because of some carrot hanging in front of me, or do I do this because I want it myself? Because, you cannot do such jobs because you are running after some carrots (admiration of people, some patting on your shoulder and such things).
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Art of Saying “No!”
Wendi, your comment makes me glad I posted this…I was not going to post it. Your comments really encouraged my spirit today and hope that someone else who needs it will read and embrace. Thank you dear Wendi, thank you!!! Hugging you from across the miles!
@Karen,
I love Mr. Ed, he was pretty cool.
As Wendi said, we’re surrounded by carrots. Figure out what is of value to us.
Now, if I could figure out how to sell all of these darned carrots…
Karen,
I WAS that girl. Except I ran so fast I caught the carrot. And ate it,and found out it tasted really bitter instead of sweet. Then I looked behind me at the trail of destruction I had left in my wake by running at the speed of light. Physical health, family relationships, friends…
I walked away from a 6 figure income and found a life worth living.
Friends, THIS is why it is critical to learn what your OWN PERSONAL core values are. Then stick them somewhere where you can never lose sight of them.
We are living in a carrot patch. They are everywhere. And unless you are a rabbit, all you are going to find is unhappiness.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Bouncing Back
Hi Brett! Heeheeheheheee…as I read that I laughed and for some reason thought of Mr. Ed (the horse) smiling. I’m rather fond of carrots too but I don’t want to follow one on a string. 🙂
I poked the boy in the eye, and took the carrot. Then I put that carrot in a pot, cooked it, and ate it.
It was delicious.
🙂
Great writing today.
-Brett
Brett Legrees last blog post..bubblegum.