Why'd you name your blog that?

Mr. Moynihan was famous for his stories. I was fortunate to be in his class senior year of high school. World Religions was the topic. I remember watching Simpsons' episodes about the evils of Scientology, hearing stories about Hare Krishna monks (I forget the details), and waiting until June to hear the cat story (nothing to do with religion...I just remember it being a teaser, a story worth waiting for, a perk of being a senior).

Anyway, it was from Mr. Moynihan that I first heard the lesson of "Who knows what is good and who knows what is bad?" I didn't internalize it at the time. In fact, I'm not sure when I started declaring this simple sentence my mantra. I do know I've been repeating that phrase a lot lately. It's the secret to my optimism. It's my reminder that no matter what happens, be it a seemingly really great thing or really bad thing, I have no idea what effect that thing will have in the long run. After all, who knows what is good and who knows what is bad?

I don't remember the details of the story, and only when I googled it did I realize that it is a Taoist lesson. I suggest you google it also if you'd like the complete story. The short and sweet version that I remember in my head (which may or may not sound anything like what Mr. Moynihan shared 13 years ago): There was a farmer whose son broke his leg. This farmer was so angry at this misfortune because the son could no longer help in the fields. Soon after, the village went to war and the army gathered up every young man to send them off to battle. Only the farmer's son was left behind, after all, he could not fight with a broken leg. The village was badly defeated and all of the other sons were killed in battle. Only the farmer's son survived, thank goodness for that broken leg! Who knows what is good, and who knows what is bad?