The wind swept softly through the valley as I sat beside the quiet stream. My name is Bo, and I was once a proud student of many things—books, charts, and how to always be the best. I tried so hard to remember everything. People said I was clever. But inside, I always felt worried, as if I might forget something important and be lost.
One morning, I met an old man while walking a path I had never taken before. He had long white eyebrows, a gentle smile, and a walking stick carved with swirls like clouds. He was tending to a garden, though he didn’t seem to be doing much at all. When I asked him if he needed help, he laughed kindly.
“I don’t need to do much,” he said, smiling. “The garden knows how to grow.”
I looked around. The plants were strong and full. “But don’t you have to control them?” I asked.
He shook his head slowly. “Control is not always the way of harmony. Sometimes, letting things be is the best way.”
He introduced himself as Master Shen. He invited me to sit with him in the garden. I didn’t know it then, but that moment would change everything.
Each day, I returned. At first, I asked many questions about life, success, and how to always do the right thing. Master Shen only smiled and told stories about clouds, rivers, or trees. I grew impatient.
“Why won’t you give me straight answers?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Straight paths may look faster, but the winding ones show more of the world.”
Another time, I saw him watching birds for what seemed like hours.
“Don’t you have things to do?” I asked.
“I am doing something,” he said. “I’m forgetting myself.”
That confused me more than anything. Forget myself? I thought being myself was important!
“What do you mean?” I pressed.
He paused and looked at me kindly. “Sometimes, we hold too tightly to who we think we are. We guard our name, our knowledge, our pride. But when we let all that go, just for a little while… we flow with the Tao.”
“The Tao?” I whispered.
He nodded. “The Way. It’s the path everything follows when it is at peace with itself.”
That night, I lay awake by the stream. For once, I stopped thinking about all the things I had to remember. I listened to the frogs croak, felt the wind on my face, and watched the moonlight dance on the water.
For the first time, I felt… quiet. Whole. I wasn’t “the best student” or “the smartest boy.” I was just Bo, part of all this.
I stayed with Master Shen for many more seasons. I spoke less. I listened more. And I began to understand.
I had chased knowledge to feel important. But the most important lesson wasn't something I could memorize. It was something I had to live: Stop trying so hard. Just be.
Now, more than anything, I treasure the stillness.
I didn’t change overnight. But now, when I start to feel lost or overwhelmed, I sit by a stream, breathe deep, and remember the day I stopped needing to be anyone but myself… and finally began to live in the Way.
The wind swept softly through the valley as I sat beside the quiet stream. My name is Bo, and I was once a proud student of many things—books, charts, and how to always be the best. I tried so hard to remember everything. People said I was clever. But inside, I always felt worried, as if I might forget something important and be lost.
One morning, I met an old man while walking a path I had never taken before. He had long white eyebrows, a gentle smile, and a walking stick carved with swirls like clouds. He was tending to a garden, though he didn’t seem to be doing much at all. When I asked him if he needed help, he laughed kindly.
“I don’t need to do much,” he said, smiling. “The garden knows how to grow.”
I looked around. The plants were strong and full. “But don’t you have to control them?” I asked.
He shook his head slowly. “Control is not always the way of harmony. Sometimes, letting things be is the best way.”
He introduced himself as Master Shen. He invited me to sit with him in the garden. I didn’t know it then, but that moment would change everything.
Each day, I returned. At first, I asked many questions about life, success, and how to always do the right thing. Master Shen only smiled and told stories about clouds, rivers, or trees. I grew impatient.
“Why won’t you give me straight answers?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Straight paths may look faster, but the winding ones show more of the world.”
Another time, I saw him watching birds for what seemed like hours.
“Don’t you have things to do?” I asked.
“I am doing something,” he said. “I’m forgetting myself.”
That confused me more than anything. Forget myself? I thought being myself was important!
“What do you mean?” I pressed.
He paused and looked at me kindly. “Sometimes, we hold too tightly to who we think we are. We guard our name, our knowledge, our pride. But when we let all that go, just for a little while… we flow with the Tao.”
“The Tao?” I whispered.
He nodded. “The Way. It’s the path everything follows when it is at peace with itself.”
That night, I lay awake by the stream. For once, I stopped thinking about all the things I had to remember. I listened to the frogs croak, felt the wind on my face, and watched the moonlight dance on the water.
For the first time, I felt… quiet. Whole. I wasn’t “the best student” or “the smartest boy.” I was just Bo, part of all this.
I stayed with Master Shen for many more seasons. I spoke less. I listened more. And I began to understand.
I had chased knowledge to feel important. But the most important lesson wasn't something I could memorize. It was something I had to live: Stop trying so hard. Just be.
Now, more than anything, I treasure the stillness.
I didn’t change overnight. But now, when I start to feel lost or overwhelmed, I sit by a stream, breathe deep, and remember the day I stopped needing to be anyone but myself… and finally began to live in the Way.
