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

 

来源: 7grizzly 于 2024-03-02 08:41:23 [档案] [博客] [旧帖] [给我悄悄话] 本文已被阅读： 4701 次 (6008 bytes)

字体：调大/重置/调小 | 加入书签 | 打印 | 所有跟帖 | 加跟贴 | 当前最热讨论主题

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： 文学城 » 论坛 » 美语世界 » APAD: Accident of Birth

所有跟帖： 

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

• It's a lesson we have to learn throughout our lives. -盈盈一笑间-    (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

• 觉得这是一个哲学问题。e.g. I started at about age 7 to ask myself -最西边的岛上-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 09:46:22

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

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

• the question had been bothering me for many years ... -最西边的岛上-    (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

• 赞， 不仅学习了 new proverb。还学习了新词。 -天边一片白云-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:14:36

• perennial waste of time， hubris, paralyzing fear. -天边一片白云-    (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. -天边一片白云-    (0 bytes) (2 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:18:32

• 我有几次切菜切破手都是因为脑子里在想乱七八糟的东西。 -天边一片白云-    (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

• 很多人只赞扬Trump很年轻就取得巨大成就，没有提他爹直接贷给他1M启动资金，其实他爹还是时代的开创者创造了地产大环境 -移花接木-    (0 bytes) (1 reads) 03/02/2024 postreply 10:45:27

• 都是拍马屁的:-))) 好像中国也有领导人子女自称白手起家，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

• 含着金钥匙出生：） -妖妖灵-    (0 bytes) (0 reads) 03/03/2024 postreply 08:57:23