RETURN TO SENDER

JUST LIKE A VOICE ECHOES IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN LIFE WE GET WHAT WE GIVE

I’m often captured by stories and metaphors that provide genuine insight or get us thinking about the human condition.

The Mountain Story that follows – which I unfortunately haven’t been able to attribute to an author – is one such.

I invite you to take a few moments to read it and reflect on what it may mean for you.

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.

Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams: “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!”

To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Curious, he yells: “Who are you?” He receives the answer: “Who are you?” Then he screams to the mountain: “I admire you!”

The voice answers: “I admire you!” Angered at the response, he screams: “Coward!”

He receives the answer: “Coward!” He looks to his father and asks: “What’s going on?”

The father smiles and says: “My son, pay attention.”

The man screams: “You are a champion!” The voice answers: “You are a champion!” The boy is surprised but does not understand.

Then the father explains: “People call this echo but really this is life. It gives you back everything you say or do.

“Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.

“This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give you back everything you have given to it. Your life is not a coincidence. It’s a reflection of you.”

— Unknown author

The insight in the statement that “our life is simply a reflection of our actions” is to challenge deep reflection on our choices, reactions and responses to all of the situations we find placed in our path as we journey to the inevitable end of this lifetime.

What does this story say to you? And if it does say something, what will you do to enhance the reflection you see? Nick Bennett is a facilitator, performance coach and partner of Minds Aligned: mindsaligned.com.au