Suzanne Askham

Wellbeing notes: Are you a tortoise or a hare?

One of my favourite tea breaks took place a few years ago, when a wild hare kept me company in the garden. For long minutes it seemed entirely contented to be there, until eventually it bounded away. 

Altogether less speedy, my grandmother’s tortoise lived in her Wiltshire garden for decades, until one day it slipped through a gap in the fence and was next seen in a neighbouring village, four miles away. 

I suspect humans operate somewhere between those two extremes, and it’s worth asking ourselves which we prefer. I used to think it was better to be a hare: to rush after my goals at top speed while I had the energy. Recently, though, I faced up to the fact that I am indisputably a tortoise. The evidence is clear: it has taken me decades to write two particular books; and I didn’t go abroad for five years until recently, when I took a month off to explore three amazing countries. 

Hares are often seen as more appealing: those lovely long ears and big eyes don’t hurt. Tortoises, on the other hand, are wrinkly from the start. No one cuddles a tortoise. But the old adage doesn’t lie, and maybe it’s helpful to bear in mind when some personal goal stays stubbornly out of reach. You will get there. Slow and steady wins the race.