Only a coward waits to be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap.
Each Thursday I select a Viking quote and whist sometimes they are randomly chosen on occasions I select them based upon their relevance or meaning to an aspect of my life. This is the case today.
The word coward is not one I'd associate with myself; it's not ego or hubris speaking, just that the word doesn't suit my character. I've been called a coward...Hmm, let me count the times, oh yeah, a grand total of once and that indirectly. I didn't like it and it left me feeling a little angry to be honest. Considering the quality of the garbage-human who said it I figured I'd let it go as coming from that individual it has no real meaning or relevance - It's that word though that prompted me to select this quote though.
This week's Viking quote
Only a coward waits to be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap. - The Saga of the People of Laxárdalr
This is a very cool quote, at least that's how I perceive it. You see, it's a quote that, as with many Viking quotes, exists to hold oneself accountable. There's no wonder quotes like this exist considering the Vikings ability to make difficult things happen; they had ownership, took responsibility of themselves and their actions and rarely shied away from taking the hard road to success. Sure, that often involved raiding and plundering but they did it with focus and that's why they were so successful in their endeavours.
Like the Vikings we often find ourselves in difficult situations. It could be an awkward work situation or a failing relationship. Maybe a rivalry between friends that blew out of proportion, a pressured financial situation or an emergency, threat or civil turmoil. It could be a health challenge, physical or mental to name a few. We have all faced them, or will. It's at those times when this quote could come to bare and make a difference to one's outcome through inspiring the right attitude and decisions.
This quote says take action.
In that difficult situation don't sit inactive, to be taken like a lamb from the fold, act instead! Sounds easy? Yeah well it's not. If it was easy we'd all be happy and never have a care in the world. But we do right?
I guess like most thing we want to achieve it starts with a goal. The Vikings began that way too; sack York, or defeat King Aelle of Northumbria for instance. A goal.
Make it specific, measurable, achievable and timely and one has a pretty good goal. Then comes the evaluation, strategy and plan and finally execution. Sounds easy, but if it's so easy why don't people have goals? I don't mean loose dreams, I mean goals as defined by those elements above. Well...They're afraid of failing most often, so best not to start because who likes failing? Of course, we all know that failure is a great teacher and so in failing to begin one has failed and not learned. It's quite simple. Fail more, is a good strategy as it means one is trying, learning and retrying. Success will come.
Difficult situations happen, it's abundantly clear that if a person has not experienced it they probably will at some point. Hiding from it through denial, inactivity and failure to plan and act won't make it go away. To move something forward action is required. It's quotes like the one above that the Vikings came up with to help them self-motivate, to find the right attitude and to stand up, form the shield wall and move into battle or simply bare the brunt of an enemy charge, a difficult situation.
Our battles are not as destructive generally but they can be! Sometimes they are with ourselves, with ourselves and sometimes our difficult times can have terrible effects. By taking stock, evaluating and planning then acting we can move towards our goals and make them realities which means we can mitigate the negative effects of the difficult situations. It just make s a lot of sense to me.
I'm going to leave you with a Latin phrase that I like and has meant a lot to me in the battles I've faced, most of which required me to overcome my own fears, find courage and the right attitude to move the situation to resolution. It goes like this:
Vincit qui se vincit - He (she) conquers who conquers himself (herself)
It means that the power to succeed at those things we desire lies within us, we just have to overcome fear, doubt, insecurity and negativity. Do that and you shall not be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap.
So that's it this week a quote about finding courage within to move one's difficult situations forward to resolution. I don't know all y'all but I hope that if you find yourself in a tight spot you remember to look within and find the determination to stand and a step forward. It's all about reward for effort. Make an effort and you shall have the reward.
Skol.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Discord: galenkp#9209
It's an interesting quote, quite profound for me and carries the weight of a double edged sword I suppose.
Something I evaluated recently - a decade ago I would have moved swiftly and with decisive action in the face of - well pretty much any challenge, especially situations where my life was at stake - this happened a couple of times and as Mr D would say "Yes, but did you die?" The answer was "no" - mostly based on clear, concise and well formulated decision making encompassing the most critical parameters at play as well as the variables that could be taken into account.
This served me well for much of my career and life, although I wasn't particularly well liked in some circles as people often found my ability to be assertive intimidating.
Nobody would have dared call me a coward though. Fast forward, I have no excuses really for being cowardly recently in my life other than to remark occasionally a wounded warrior needs to hear a battle cry over the fray in order to find that courage you speak of to overcome the things that hold one back from forward motion, I will fully own and take responsibility for that as I can see it clearly for the situation that it was.
Galen I've been called so many things in my life and recently some of the most abhorrent and ridiculous things - I am choosing to not even allocate energy to it, it really is so below me, it is below you too, Illegitimi non Carborundum
Skol
Andy
I like the wounded warrior needs to hear a battle cry over the fray reference. It's exactly the case. There's always something that triggers responses, either the do nothing, head in the sand response or the stand the fuck up and take a step forward response. We've all done both I think. I like that you're owning it also. There's little choice but to do so I guess, despite it seeming easier to apportion blame elsewhere. Owning it is accountability and it's that which often sounds quite like a battle cry, scream of defiance and unwillingness to capitulate.
Illegitimi non Carborundum. Indeed Andy.
Somehow I doubt that you are a coward. You will rise to the occasion when it counts the most!
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Hmmmm
Very timely for me, I have a series of challenges ahead and going on offense is the best way forward! Still tending to dad's estate and all that entails with mother, but a better way to work with her is to lay a groundwork and start explaining it days or weeks in advance. Her memory is very poor and repetition helps.
Thanks for the advice, it has many applications 💪
You're welcome.
We all handle challenge differently and can always use more intel. Over the years I tried to change the word challenge into opportunity, just a mindset shift but one that energises me, keeps my sword sharp for battle and keeps me seeking new solutions. Of course maintaining attitude is part of that, often so difficult to do.
I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I handled the estates for both my parents, my dad recently, and know how rough the road can be. One step in front of the other is the way to go and if you need drop me a line, I might have something of value to add just when you need it most.
All the best.
Brother, that is a great offer. I appreciate it a lot 🤩
I'll know much more in about a week.
You know where I am. I have Discord also of course.
Only a coward waits to be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap 😍👍👍
In my opinion, immobility means that , hey people! you can attack me and destroy me!
People do not have a goal because they do not do even the simplest thing: writing!
I will not sleep at night if I do not write tomorrow's program ...
When we do not resist fears and only move forward, things will get better and better over time
Overcoming our own fears helps us think more clearly, evaluate and plan and with some action we can move forward to new and better results.
I'm a fan of the well executed ambush but I guess that doesn't exactly count as waiting like a coward. Ever run into issues with taking action a little too aggressively/effectively? Gets me in more difficulties than not taking action sometimes.
That Latin quote reminds me of Sun Tzu, sans the know your enemy bit. Do you recall who is responsible for it?
Issues from acting too effectively? Hmm, now there's a post to write. Maybe a series. Lol. Yeah, it happens and has happened to me. I guess it's important to know when it's occurring and either dial back or pivot...Or just say fuck it and accelerate. 🤪
Hmm, good question about that Latin quote. I'm not sure who coined it. I might have to do some research, aggressive and effective research.
A series for sure. Lol. Somehow fuck it seems to be the choice more often than not.
I would expect nothing less from you!
😉✅
I have really followed your write up for a while and always take cognizance of each one and using them as a courage which as really helped a lot. Keep it Big Bro.
"Only a coward waits to be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap" Hmmmmmmmmmm! The words hit the right part 💪💪💪
You're welcome. It makes me happy to know some of what I write makes sense to people and they take something away that benefits their lives.
Yeah🤝
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So Vikings had a normal mindset then XD
not so much on the subjugation front x_x
I don't know about this one sometimes.
Well, I didn't say what the reward was. Might be ultimate success or a lesson. Either way making the effort will make something happen. Success is great but failure is a good teacher. A win-win.
Loving this quote and your thoughts on it
I will be honest, I might have fallen into the coward bin (I wasn't always like this) but this year I am climbing out
So sliding into this post is great timing :D
Thanks for your comment. I get it you know, it's easy to fall into that feeling and sometimes doing nothing, or little, is easier than the alternative. There's a result both ways though. One just needs to decide what results are more important.
It seems you're on the right track.
Looks like I missed a lot of parts from the series with my absence on here. Real life and adult life sucks sometimes.
I'm happy though that I managed to see your post today and congratulations for the original idea of sharing a quote in which you find yourself. I think we all have some favourite quotes that mean more for us than a simple text you read on the internet, and they do play a major role in someone's lives since they can change your perspective too.
Quotes are the experience of others, the lessons they learned, in text for us to read, determine if/how they fit us and then take on or discard as required. Free wisdom? Why not take advantage huh?
Exactly!
I love the latin quote even more! I think the solution is always within despite the fact that we cling to outside sources for validation or solutions. I will remember it
Yep it's a good one for sure!
This article is gold tier.
Thanks for saying so.
This is a good quote. It definitely makes sense to take action before anyone can take you out of the fold! Those Vikings were pretty smart :)
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The Vikings were innovative and out-of-the-box thinkers for sure. Incredible tacticians.
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