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 visit, the conversation 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. He then
told them all to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When
they each 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 need 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!!
~Author Unknown