#80 - Let's have some resilient fun: The Story of The Two Bags

"Let's have some resilient fun" shows some important topics in a more relaxed and joyful way. After all, humour is quoted as a desirable characteristic of resilient individuals like us!

My father recently shared an amusing story from his time working at the Polish Railways. Back then, he was responsible for overseeing a major railway transport hub in Upper Silesia — a place full of schedules, signals, and the daily rhythm of trains crisscrossing the region.

During one routine inspection, an internal controller identified some issues in the work of one of the train traffic controllers. As required, the controller documented these findings in an official report. Ironically, while compiling the report, he made several clerical errors of his own — a small but telling detail.

When it came time for the traffic controller to respond formally to the report, he did something unexpected. Instead of directly addressing the points raised, he submitted a short story:

The response caused a wave of complaints and heated discussions. Eventually, the matter was resolved — and the traffic controller’s reply became an organizational legend.

Aesop, Ego, and the Bags We Ignore

Although this fable is often attributed to Cicero, it actually originates from Aesop.

Because the front bag is always in sight, we tend to notice other people’s mistakes first — quickly, easily, sometimes harshly. But our own shortcomings are out of view, hidden behind us. As a result, we overlook them. We excuse them. We forget they exist.

And yet, they weigh just as heavily.

This story strikes me as a powerful metaphor for one of the most challenging aspects of personal growth: receiving feedback. There is no shortage of advice on how to give feedback — every management training covers it — but spotting problems in others is not the hard part. The real challenge lies in how we receive criticism, how we process it, and what we do with it afterward.

The Real Work Begins in the Bag Behind Us

Before judging, blaming, or correcting others, perhaps we should first reach for the bag behind us. In that process, ego often becomes our greatest enemy. We prefer to keep the most useful information — the uncomfortable truths about ourselves — hidden away in the bag behind. But perhaps the journey to resilience begins when we choose to reach into that rear bag first:

• To learn from criticism.

• To confront our blind spots.

• To put more attention to our own faults than to those of others.

Resilience isn't about perfection or invulnerability. It’s about humility, perspective, and the courage to grow.

Sometimes, the best lessons come not from formal reports, but from stories. My father still laughs when he tells this tale. But beneath the humor lies a reminder that stays with me: Before correcting others, check the bag behind you first.

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References

Aesop’s Fables, “The Two Bags”, translated by George Fyler Townsend (1867).