Can You Sleep When The Wind Blows?

A young farmhand rode into town looking for work. He could turn his hand on almost anything, so he didn’t mind what was on offer.

He also had a few dollars stashed away so he wasn’t desperate for money either. He just needed three meals a day and somewhere to lay his head at night.

Eventually he found a place looking for workers.

Happy with the calluses on the young man’s hands, the farmer asked him what his strengths were, to which the young man replied…

“I can sleep when the wind blows”.

Not wanting to admit his ignorance, the farmer nodded wisely and gave him a start.

He told the young man he could sleep in the attic above the barn and join the family in the farmhouse for his meals.

His new charge turned out to be a great find. He was first on his feet every morning and he didn’t stop until the doing was done late in the day. He was both a fowl and an owl.

But for weeks, the farmer couldn’t shake off the young man’s comment, “I can sleep when the wind blows”.

He was desperate to ask him what he meant but he was too proud to open his mouth.

And then one night a ferocious storm hit the farm, threatening to rip the place apart.

The farmer immediately bounced out of bed and took off towards the stables. While racing around in a mad panic, he noticed the young worker was nowhere to be seen. He was fuming!

But as the farmer sprinted from one hatch to another, he realised everything had already been battened down and there was nothing to worry about.

He finally had his answer.

Earlier this year, I helplessly watched a widow sort out her husband’s estate without any access to his passwords. It was torture.

You see, just like the young farmhand, her husband took care of everything.

He made sure she could sleep when the wind blew.

The problem was, he lost most of his memory before he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and she couldn’t access a thing except her own bank account.

She was literally locked-out during lock-down.

In some cases, it was easier to get access to accounts once her husband died. At least then she could supply a marriage certificate stapled to a death certificate and a statutory declaration from her solicitor.

The frustration and helplessness only amplified her grief.

The sad irony is this. With just a little more communication earlier on, both the farmer and this lady could have slept when the wind blowed.

Have a great weekend!

Adam

Back paddock – sometimes the most hurtful things we hear are the words we say to ourselves. Jamie Kern Lima – IT Cosmetics Founder.

p.s. if you want to read an inspiring story, read this woman’s. Her book is called, Believe IT. Brilliant!