In the Wild West, there was only one way to control a young bull: You grabbed it directly by the horns and wrestled it to the ground. Getting in the way of the powerful legs was not an option, and if you did, your career was quickly ended. You had to grab that bull by the horns and wrestle it down. It was a dangerous thing to do, but it was routine work for cowboys, who did it as par for the course. You weren’t much good to people as a cowboy if you couldn’t grab a bull by the horns.
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| Toro! Toro! |
Little has changed these days. We’re not in the Wild West anymore,
though. In fact, we are in the Primitive
East now. At least, I am. However, if you want to get anything done in
life, you must still grab the bull by the horns. What this means is that you are the one in
control of your own life, but only if you forcefully claim it. You skirt around as many dangers as possible
(legs and hooves are avoided at all times), and then you grab those horns and
wrestle that bull to the ground.
That’s how you stay afloat.
Or . . . you could ignore it all and pretend it doesn’t exist. You could pretend that life is just a
haphazard occurrence over which you have no control. You could just let life happen to you however
it may. You could take whatever scraps
are thrown to you and try to be content with them. You could let your opportunities slip through
your hands until the bull becomes so large and mature that it is simply
impossible to tame anymore.
Then, too, you could grab the bull by the horns. You could say, “I am not happy with being fed
scraps; I deserve more,” and you could go out and control your own life. Of course, it won’t be easy. Those horns are very sharp, after all, and no
one comes out completely unscathed.
There are always injuries, and most cowboys have a limp at some point or
other in their lives. It’s part of the
deal.
But they walk with their heads held high. And they don’t eat scraps. And they go out there and find what they want
and grab it and take it. So whatever it
is you want to do, whether it’s wrestling bulls or hauling lobsters or laying
bricks, get out there and grab the bull by the horns. Refuse to sit on the sidelines. Refuse the scraps. Accept the occasional and inevitable failures
along with the pride in doing and providing for yourself and your loved ones.
You only live once.
Never settle for mediocrity. Die first before you settle for mediocrity. Then get out there and say, “Toro! Toro!”
