“The Hare’s Truth: Why Losing the Race Was Winning at Life”
“Yes, I am the hare who lost the race,” he began. “But let me tell you something—I didn’t become sluggish or complacent. I was hopping over bushes when I realized I had a good lead and the tortoise was nowhere to be seen.
So I decided to take a break and catch my breath under the banyan tree,” he explained. “As I sat beneath the tree, I heard the sound of flowing water. I considered going there, drinking some water, and swimming for a bit.”
“As I approached the shore, I noticed an old man with a grey beard sitting meditatively on a rock.”
‘Who are you?’ I asked.
‘I’m a hare,’ I said. ‘I’m competing in a race.’
‘Why?’
‘To show all the animals in the jungle that I am the fastest.’
‘Why do you want to prove that you’re the fastest?’
‘So I get a medal, which gives me status, which gives me money, which gives me food…’
‘There’s already a lot of food around,’ he said, pointing to the forest. ‘Look at all those fruit and nut trees, all those leafy branches.’
‘I also want to be respected. I want to be remembered as the world’s fastest hare.’
‘Can you name the fastest deer, largest elephant, or strongest lion who lived a thousand years before you?’
‘No.’
‘You were challenged today by a tortoise. Tomorrow it will be a snake. Then a cheetah. Will you race for the rest of your life to prove that you are the fastest?’
I paused. ‘Hmm. I hadn’t given it much thought. I don’t want to keep racing and proving I’m the fastest all my life.’
‘So, what do you want to do?’
‘I want to relax, jump in that pond, swim, and enjoy this nature.’
‘Okay, do it. You’re here today. You’ll be gone the next day. Enjoy your life.’
So I jumped into the river and closed my eyes when a group of ducklings inquired about the race. I told them it was pointless and that all I wanted to do was stay here. Hopefully, someone will tell the world my story someday.
I lost the race—but I got my life back.”
Why Did the Hare Run This Race in the First Place?
A cheetah doesn’t need to race dogs to prove that it’s the fastest. Yet, in life, we often find ourselves competing endlessly—chasing medals, titles, and recognition. But for what? Status? Money? Respect?
The truth is, these things are fleeting. Few remember the fastest deer or strongest lion from centuries ago. So why sacrifice peace and joy for applause that fades?
What is often overlooked are the lessons that can be learned from the hare. In the tale, the hare is boastful and quickly has a huge lead over the tortoise. The lead is so large that the hare even takes a nap during the race. In some versions, the hare talks with friends and plays a game or two during the race. The hare’s overconfidence and distractibility are held up as things for children not to do if they truly want to succeed.
However current research is revealing that the hare, while a bit full of himself, had some good long-term habits. One habit was to take little breaks while working on a task. People are more productive if they take little breaks while working on a larger task. Children can use this habit when working on homework. For every 15-20 minutes that they work, they should take a couple minute break. This can include getting a drink of water, getting up and stretching, or going to sharpen a pencil. The breaks can help stave off fatigue and children end up completing their work more quickly than going without breaks.
A second habit the hare exhibited is to get enough sleep and incorporate naps into his day. Naps as short as 20 minutes can help increase alertness and improve attention. Longer naps can even help with learning as sleep allows the brain to make new connections and even assist in helping to solve problems children are working on.
While schools typically don’t allow naps, parents can do the next best thing and ensure that their children are getting an adequate amount of sleep at night. Many children and adolescents become sleep deprived during the school year. This can make them irritable and make it harder for them to concentrate at school. Parents should set a firm bedtime to make sure that this doesn’t happen to their children.
The last habit the hare exhibited in the tale is to take some time to be with friends and to play. Taking a break to play and have some fun can recharge children and get them ready to learn. This is one of the reasons that generations of students had recess in the middle of the school day.
While the tortoise won the race, his approach would be difficult to maintain over the long run. Taking breaks, getting enough sleep, and stopping to have some fun are all ways to minimize feelings of burnout and make children more resilient. The next time you read the Tortoise and the Hare, think about the lessons the hare teaches us just as much as that of the tortoise.
Beautiful Truths of Life from the Hare (and Islam)
- Success isn’t everything. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Richness is not having many possessions, but richness is being content with oneself.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari) - Pause and reflect. Taking time for dhikr and reflection brings clarity and peace.
- Enjoy the present. Gratitude (shukr) for nature, family, and blessings is a form of worship.
- Comparison is a trap. Allah has given each soul its own test and provision (rizq). Competing for dunya is futile.
- Legacy is fragile. Only deeds done for Allah endure:
“When a person dies, all his deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for him.”
(Sahih Muslim)
