Follow The White Rabbit

“My Mamma used to tell me this story about the jackrabbit and the box turtle. The jackrabbit is a real d@#%, and he brags all the time, he says nobody's faster'n him. And well, it's true ‘cause every time, the jackrabbit races, he always wins. The whole f@#$%* forest has to put up with this s@#! day in and day out. The f@#$%* always wants to race just so he can rub in it some more. So the box turtle figures, 'why not? I'll give it a try. The jackrabbit laughs, 'This'll be fun, so let's f@#$%* go.' The jackrabbit leaves the box turtle in the f@#$%* dust ‘cause he's way out in front. The jackrabbit always wins. But the jackrabbit wants to put on a show, so he stops to make it seem close, and takes a nap. But he sleeps longer than he wanted to. By the time he wakes up, I mean he knows he's f@#$%*, and the jackrabbit goes full tilt, but it's too late and the box turtle crosses the finish line first and the crowd, whoosh, goes f@#$%* wild. Later that night the box turtle's havin' dinner with his family. He's tellin’ his little box turtles how he did it. 'I mean, you never give up. I just kept crawlin' forwards, and you can overcome just about anything.'

The door smashes in. It's the jackrabbit, and he has a hammer. He smashes up the wife and kids first so the box turtle has to watch ‘em die. And then it's his turn. Once the whole family is broken into little pieces, he sits down and eats their dinner, every last bite... ‘cause the jackrabbit always wins.” (The Hunt, 2020)

It's true that sometimes the moral of a story can be open to interpretation and may change depending on one's life experiences and perspectives. After writing my memoir, I stumbled across a movie called "The Hunt" and in the strangest way, a character by the name of Crystal May Creasey's narrative resounded with me so deeply, reminding me of my own struggles with forgiveness and being humble. In her unexpected powerful portrayal, this small snippet became an “aha moment” and a testament to the intricate balance between perseverance and forgiveness that I’ve always wrestled with. The story of “The Jackrabbit and the Box Turtle” presented itself as a reminder to me that life is unpredictable and sometimes things don't go according to plan.

This simple retold story held an incredible value that went far beyond its surface message. It triggered me as I delved into thoughts of the follow-up to my memoir, Turtles Win Rabbit Races. I realized that while perseverance had been my superpower, forgiveness had often been my kryptonite. I had encountered situations and individuals in my life that caused pain, and resentment, and letting go of that bitterness seemed impossible. But through this process, I began to understand the transformative power of forgiveness. It doesn't mean forgetting or condoning the hurtful actions, but rather freeing oneself from the burden of holding onto anger and resentment. Forgiving others allows us to reclaim our own inner peace and move forward with a sense of liberation.

Refusing to forgive keeps us captive to the hurt, while forgiveness sets us free. Forgiveness was a new world for me. I’ve heard about it, but I never really got to experience it for myself, which is what led me to “the white rabbit”. We are still talking about rabbits, right? My defense mechanism has always been to persevere, but it was always to a place or a “race” where I felt comfortable and that I could control. The turtle’s optimism has always relied on what the turtle could do himself, but following the white rabbit symbolizes the beginning of a new journey. It means to follow a path that leads to an unexpected or unknown destination. This is where my quest for forgiveness started. It can be a metaphor for following something that got your attention, something that speaks to your heart. And I knew in my heart that I needed to forgive, I just didn’t want to or even know how to. I knew that I had to do something new in order to see something new, and I wanted my life to change. I could understand that trials and tribulations were making me tougher, but being hurt by someone didn’t fit in my rationale. I was experiencing all this new positivity in my life, yet I was still irritated, insulted, and hostile when it came to a select few. Why? Because I wasn’t free.

I had found myself in a strange place, learning that life is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, all it takes is following the white rabbit - that unlikely clue that leads us into extraordinary situations. Taking this first step reminded me of the iconic scenes from The Matrix or Alice in Wonderland. By following a white rabbit, I joined both Neo and Alice in sharing how their journeys began. For me it was forgiveness. For Neo, it was a tattoo of the white rabbit, while for Alice, it was a bit more literal. Either way, it's a testament to our instinctive sense of optimism, which the white rabbit metaphorically represents, that properly starts their journey and changes their lives forever. And in this journey of self-discovery, I’ve seen parallels between Alice in Wonderland and Neo in the Matrix with how I was feeling. It takes a lot of courage to be open and confront unresolved issues, but it can lead to a greater understanding of ourselves and our purpose. It's interesting to see how different things can act as a catalyst for this journey, whether it's a talking rabbit, a message on a computer screen, or a movie clip. It's also important to be mindful of external vices that distract us from this journey.

It is in these moments that we are presented with the opportunity to challenge our beliefs and embrace the unknown. Following the white rabbit means following an unlikely clue and finding yourself in the middle of an uncomfortable but extraordinary situation. I believe that following YOUR white rabbit means exploring what's behind the veil of the unknown and a willingness to venture beyond our comfort zones to truly transform our lives. When we choose to follow it, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and embark into uncharted territory. While it may seem scary at first, this leap of faith often leads us to remarkable experiences that we never could have imagined. Following the white rabbit is what gets everything in motion. It’s the willingness to take accountability for yourself and to see where it goes. It’s the first step you must take to face your fears, and insecurities, and to become the best you. Initially, it's what gets you out of your consolation and pushes you toward the thing that you would usually run from. Following the white rabbit is what led me down the path of forgiveness. Rather than allowing myself to continue using being hurt as motivation, opening my heart to forgiveness was something that I never thought that I would do. Unforgiveness was the driving force and what fueled my spirit of perseverance, and I realized that I was using the wrong grade of gas. And I’m not talking about regular or premium, I’m talking about Jesus because I had come to the conclusion that I don’t need them or an I’ll show them mentality. It made me turn inward. The Matrix made me feel like I was self-efficient. Wonderland made me pretentious. I felt entitled to hold on to the anger and resentment. I made the decision to be intentional in letting go of the offense and bitterness.

In Turtles Win Rabbit Races, I compared life to a race, where I strived to reach my goals and cross the finish line. But too often, I found myself fixated on comparing my own strengths and weaknesses to those around me. I played the protagonist in my favorite fable growing up, The Tortoise and The Hare, where the slow and steady tortoise triumphs over the speedy hare. But what if I told you that in the race of life, it's not always about being the first one to cross the line or the most determined? Yes, races involve other people, but new experiences have taught me that forgiveness is a lonely road and that the good guy doesn’t always win, especially when we expect everyone to play fair. In an actual race between a turtle and a rabbit, I would without doubt put my cash on the rabbit, however, I had to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I’ve recently realized that the true essence of winning lies not in simply outpacing others but in staying true to who we are and our journey. In life's race, I’m learning that winning shouldn’t solely be defined by crossing a finish line before others; it is about personal growth, resilience, and embracing one's own unique path. While external factors may influence our journey, it is ultimately up to us to determine how we navigate through challenges and setbacks. No matter how many times we stumble or fall behind, we have to keep going because ultimately it is not just about winning the race but also about enjoying every step of the journey toward accomplishment. The real lesson of the story "The Rabbit Always Wins" holds tremendous value and is a reminder we can all benefit from. It teaches us a significant message: "Don't miss an opportunity to experience triumph by being proud and idle."

In following the white rabbit, I discovered that life's greatest adventures lie beyond our everyday routines. We are thrusting ourselves into situations that test our limits and force us to question what we thought we knew. These moments of uncertainty become catalysts for personal growth, as we learn to adapt, overcome obstacles, and embrace change. It leads us down paths less traveled; paths that ultimately shape who we are and what we become. So don't be afraid to follow your own white rabbit – you’ll never know where it might take you or how it might transform your life for the better.