20/08/2026
16. TIMING — WHEN TO MOVE, WHEN TO BE STILL
“Wisdom is not merely knowing how to move; it is knowing when movement will save you and when stillness will protect you.”
— Joy Adaeze Adeseko
🐢 THE TORTOISE WHO WAITED FOR THE STORM TO SPEAK
Long ago, in a forest that no longer appears on any map, there lived a tortoise named Mbe-Nwa, whose greatest gift was not his shell, his strength, or even his cleverness.
His gift was knowing when not to move.
The animals often laughed at him.
“Why do you take so long?” Monkey would ask.
“Why do you stop whenever everyone else is running?” Antelope would tease.
Tortoise would simply smile.
One afternoon, the animals were travelling through the forest when they heard a terrible sound from the mountains.
BOOOOM!
The earth trembled.
The birds flew into the sky. Antelope ran towards the valley. Monkey climbed the tallest tree. Even Leopard began moving quickly.
“Tortoise! Run!” they shouted.
But Tortoise did not run.
He looked at the trees.
He watched the birds.
He listened to the wind.
Then he quietly pulled his head and legs into his shell.
“Coward!” Monkey shouted. “While danger is coming, you are hiding!”
Tortoise remained still.
Moments later, a violent storm swept through the forest. Branches crashed down. Trees bent and broke. The river rose suddenly and flooded the valley.
The animals that had run blindly found themselves trapped in the flood.
But Tortoise's stillness had protected him.
When the storm finally passed, he slowly brought out his head.
He did not laugh at the others.
Instead, he began moving carefully towards higher ground.
Along the way, he saw Monkey clinging to a broken branch.
“Tortoise! Help me!”
Tortoise looked at the river.
This time, he moved.
He found a strong vine, pushed it towards Monkey and helped him reach safety.
Monkey stared at him.
“Why did you hide when we were running, but move when I needed you?”
Tortoise smiled.
“Because,” he said, “there are moments when movement saves your life, and moments when movement puts your life in danger.”
The animals became quiet.
Then Tortoise continued:
“A wise person does not move simply because everyone else is moving. And a wise person does not remain still simply because movement is frightening. Wisdom is knowing the difference.”
From that day, whenever the forest faced danger, the animals stopped asking, “How fast can we move?”
They first asked:
“Is this the moment to move—or the moment to be still?”
And that question saved many lives.
🌿 THE LESSON
Sometimes, you must move quickly.
Move when opportunity calls.
Move when danger requires escape.
Move when your purpose demands courage.
But there are also moments when your greatest protection is stillness.
Stillness can prevent a foolish decision.
Stillness can keep you from reacting in anger.
Stillness can allow you to observe what haste would hide.
Stillness can protect something precious until the right moment arrives.
Not every delay is weakness.
Not every movement is progress.
Not every opportunity requires an immediate response.
Sometimes wisdom whispers:
“Move.”
And sometimes wisdom whispers:
“Wait.”
The difference is timing.
💭 ENGAGING QUESTIONS
Have you ever moved too quickly and later wished you had waited?
What situation in your life currently requires movement?
What situation requires you to be still and observe?
Do you think waiting can sometimes be an act of wisdom?
What would you tell someone who believes that “if I am not moving, I am not progressing”?
Tell me your answer in the comments. Someone may need the wisdom in your experience today. ❤️
📲 SHARE THIS
If this story reminds you that timing is part of wisdom, share it with someone who needs to know that they do not have to rush every decision.
Sometimes the wisest step forward begins with standing still.
