Cows don't give milk

Do you know that cows don't give milk? A peasant used to say to his children when they were young that, when you all reach the age of 12, I will tell you the secret of life. —The secret of life is this: The cow does not give milk. "What are you saying?" Asked the boy incredulously. —As you hear it, son: The cow does not give milk, you have to milk it. You have to get up at 4 in the morning, go to the field, walk through the corral full of manure, tie the tail, hobble the legs of the cow, sit on the stool, place the bucket and do the work your self.

There is this generation that thinks that cows give milk. That things are automatic and free: their mentality is that if " I wish, I ask..... I obtain."  " They have been accustomed to get what ever they want the easy way...But No, life is not a matter of wishing, asking and obtaining. The things that one receives are the effort of what one does.

Like happiness is the result of effort. Lack of effort creates frustration. So, remember to share with your children, from a young age, the secret of life. So they don't grow up with the mentality that the government, their parents, or their cute little faces is going to give them everything they need in life. Therefore always remember that  "Cows don't give milk. You have to work for it"

Happiness is like a butterfly, the more you chase it, the more it will evade you, but if you notice the other things around you, it will gently come and sit on your shoulder.” Sadness, loss and defeat are normal parts of the human condition. Sometimes, that’s what’s required to achieve great things. One cannot deny or avoid them to be happy. Treat happiness as the by-product of other great things in your life, not the end goal itself.

But what are ‘the other things around you’ and the mindset that can invite happiness? The first thing is to cultivate an attitude espoused by the Stoics and later Nietzsche captured by the phrase “Amor Fati” (means the love of fate). Amor Fati is a mindset that you take on for making the best out of anything that happens. Treating each and every moment – no matter how challenging – as something to be embraced, not avoided. To not only be okay with it, but love it and be better for it. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential.

This attitude helps one see every challenge in life as an opportunity to learn and to grow, to be more resilient in times of hardship. Second is gratitude for what one has in their life, for the opportunities that come their way and the people that help them. Third is keeping everything in perspective. One need not think about all the starving children in Africa to remind themselves how lucky they are, it’s okay to feel sad and disappointed at times, but have a perspective of time: “In 10 years’ time, will this matter? Will I even remember this event?” and let some things slide. Be selective in what one cares about, don’t be unhappy for frivolous reasons. Cheers!