I so love this I had to share….
I was reading an article by an American author, and political activist, Donna Brazile called ’The Smartest Advice I Ever Got’.
One piece of advice was from her good friend, another American political activist Gloria Steinem and it will stay with me for life!
“I’m proud to call Gloria Steinema friend, and this advice came from her.
While on a field trip in college with her geology class, she discovered a giant snapping turtle that had climbed out of the river, up a dirt path, right to the edge of a road.
Worried it would soon be run over, she wrestled the enormous reptile off the embankment and back down to the water.
At that moment, her professor walked up and asked what in the world she was doing. With some pride, she told him.
He said that the turtle had probably spent a month crawling up that long dirt path to safely lay its eggs in the mud on the side of the road and that she had destroyed all that effort with her “rescue.”
Gloria tells this story to illustrate the most important political lesson she ever learned: Always ask the turtle.
By Donna Brazile
O, The Oprah Magazine
Ahh.
Wow.
How often do I open my mouth sprouting advice thinking a friend/sibling/parent needs to be rescued AND thinking that I know best?
Viva la turtle.
Oh me too KJ. I cringe at the times I’ve not listened properly for falling over myself to offer the perfect advice. Mostly listening IS the rescue remedy we need – not a solution. So love that you get it ;o)