There’s a story I want to share with you. One that’s stuck with me for a long time, and if you really get it, it’ll stick with you too. It’s about draft horses. Now, these aren’t your sleek racehorses or show ponies. No, these are the powerhouses, the ones bred to carry the weight of the world—or at least it seems that way.
Imagine one of these draft horses yoked up to a heavy cart, muscles tense, nostrils flaring, hooves digging into the ground. This horse is hauling a massive load—8,000 pounds, no less. Just think about that. One horse, moving all that weight by sheer force and will. Impressive, right?
But here’s the part that blows my mind. Put two of these draft horses together, and they don’t just pull double the weight. They don’t pull 16,000 pounds. No, together, these two horses can pull 24,000 pounds. More than triple what they could do alone. Why? It’s not just that there’s more muscle—it’s because they’re aligned. They move in sync, every step forward as one, combining their strength and pulling in the same direction.
And that’s the lesson here. Alone, we can accomplish a lot. We all have the power to carry the weight life throws at us. But when we come together, when we align ourselves with the right people, when we pull toward the same goal, we achieve something much bigger than any one of us could alone. It’s not just about adding up our strengths—it’s about multiplying them.
This is life, folks. We all have our own weight to carry. Sometimes, that load feels heavy. Sometimes, it feels impossible. But it’s not meant to be carried alone. There’s a reason they say, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The draft horse reminds us that when we pull together, we achieve more. Period.
But here’s the kicker—it’s not just about the load we carry. Life isn’t just about carrying heavy stuff. It’s about how we face the storms.
Let me take you to the plains, where a storm is rolling in. You can feel it—the air is heavy, the wind is picking up, and the sky’s turning dark. Now, picture a herd of cows out there. At first, they’re grazing, doing their job. But once they feel the storm coming, what do they do? They start to panic. The cows get nervous. They moo, they shuffle, and then—they scatter. They try to outrun the storm, each going in a different direction, hoping they can escape. But you and I both know what happens next. That storm is faster than they are. The more they run, the longer they’re stuck in it. The rain, the wind—it all catches up with them, and they’re trapped in the chaos for far longer than they need to be.
Now, let’s talk buffalo. When they see that same storm, they don’t scatter. They don’t panic. They gather together, shoulder to shoulder, heads down, calm and focused. And when the moment is right, they charge straight into the storm. Full steam ahead. No hesitation. Why? Because the buffalo know that the fastest way through the storm is to face it head-on. They’re not trying to avoid the discomfort or run from the pain. They’re embracing it. They know the only way to the other side is right in the middle.
Now, this is a metaphor that hits home for me, and I know it will for you too. Life is full of storms. It’s full of tough decisions, uncomfortable moments, and challenges that seem overwhelming. The question is, are you going to be like the cows? Are you going to panic, run, and hope the storm passes while you try to avoid the hard stuff? Or are you going to be like the buffalo, standing strong, charging into the storm, knowing that the sooner you face it, the sooner you’ll get through it?
There’s a quote from Robert Frost: "The only way out is through." That’s exactly what the buffalo teach us. The longer you avoid the storm, the longer you’re stuck in it. But if you have the guts to face it, head-on, you come out stronger, faster, and better on the other side.
And look, I’m not saying it’s easy. We all face storms—whether it’s in business, relationships, or just the curveballs life throws our way. But the more we run from them, the longer we’re trapped. Buffalo do not waste time in chaos. They cut right through it, and they get to the other side quicker. That’s resilience. That’s strength. That’s how you face life.
So, how does this all tie together? Well, life isn’t just about pulling the heavy loads or facing the storms—it’s both. Sometimes, we’re the draft horse, working hard, pulling the weight of whatever life has handed us. And sometimes, we’re the buffalo, charging into the storm, determined to make it through.
But here’s the thing—you don’t have to do it alone. The draft horse teaches us that when we align with others, we’re capable of pulling more, achieving more, and making the impossible possible. And the buffalo shows us that when we face life’s storms head-on, we spend less time in the chaos and more time on the other side, where the skies are clear and the air is fresh.
This is how we should be living our lives—pulling together when the weight feels too heavy, and charging into the storm when it’s time to face the hard stuff. It’s not just about surviving. It’s about thriving. It’s about recognizing that we’re stronger together, that life’s challenges aren’t meant to be avoided, and that when we face them, we come out better on the other side.
I’ll leave you with this: "It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves," Sir Edmund Hillary once said. And he’s right. The weight we carry, the storms we face—they’re part of the journey. But it’s how we choose to face them that defines us.
So, are you going to scatter like the cows? Or are you going to stand strong, like the buffalo, and charge into the storm? Are you going to try and pull the weight alone, or are you going to align with others and pull together, knowing you can accomplish more as a team?
The choice is yours. But I think you already know what to do. Let’s face life head-on. Together.
