Something to Ponder
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their conversation it turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their conversation it turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.
6 comments:
Hot chocolate in cups? I'll have mine in a big ol' mug please! With BIG marshmellows!
AA ---- picky, picky!
You betcha! Hot chocolate is a VERY IMPORTANT topic with me!
Delightful reflection, Adrienne, I was with you all the way. It's a great moment when other people are able to give us a glimpse of ourselves, especially those hidden parts which are obstacles to our journey. We should be, and I think you are, so grateful. Thanks.
nice reflection.
like a lot of things, perhaps easier said than done.
BUT it is in the working it out that the accomplishment becomes more valuable.
the hot-chocolate tastes better with every cupful if we focus on it and not the cup.
now, where did i put that hot-chocolate mix?
Great post! (Those big mugs hold more hot chocolate too.)
Karen
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