The ultimate difference between the two men was their mood. Custer was never satisfied with where he was. He always aimed to go on the next higher station in his society. He was always in a state of becoming. Crazy Horse accepted the situations he found himself in and aimed only to be a brave and respected Sioux warrior. He was in a state of being. Custer believed that things could be better. Crazy Horse did not.
- Crazy Horse and Custer, Stephen Ambrose
Which is better? Being or becoming?
We are both. The march of time always puts us in a state of becoming. The present moment always puts us in a state of being.
You can be dissatisfied or satisfied in either state.
It’s not about choosing one. It’s an “and,” not an “or.”
It’s about knowing when to move and when to stand still.
P.S. This is a great book, by the way. Not only interesting history, but Ambrose does a great job uncovering the contrast between the characters and their cultures. Like so much else in our world, good and bad here are relative, and it’s not that easy.
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