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Monday, March 5, 2018

"Good or Bad? Hard to Say," Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA



These downed trees brought to mind a TED talk I heard recently (at this link) about "good" and "bad." The speaker relays an ancient parable about a farmer's horse running away (a "bad" event) but then, the horse returns with more wild horses (a "good" event). The farmer's son rides one of the new horses but is thrown and breaks his leg (a "bad event), then soldiers came by the farm looking for conscripts but pass him by due to the broken leg (a "good event). The parable serves as an allegorical lead-in to the speaker's discussion of her daughter's rare medical condition.  It was worth my time listening to the thirteen-minute TED lecture linked above.



The ferocious storm that just hit New England uprooted these two trees. Seemingly a "bad" event. However, since they didn't damage the house structure, it might be seen as a "good" event. Further, it's obvious the still-standing similar trees are already leaning and likely to cause a future problem - potentially a "bad" event. So, it's likely smart to take down the others - a "good" event. Of course, it'll be expensive to take them down - a "bad" event. And on and on.......

The point here and in almost all phases of life is that whether something is "good" or "bad" is hard to say. A thing is not necessarily only one thing. Hasty judgment is neither helpful nor accurate.


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