Appearance, it’s what’s inside
A group of Ivy League alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit
their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in
work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned
with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal,
some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves
to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all
the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, 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. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In
most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What
all of you really wanted was coffee, 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 coffee;
the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and
contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life
we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savour
the coffee, not the cups!”
We all hold the Key
Once upon a time, a village was occupied by the invaders, and all its people were
imprisoned. They suffered for months in the cold, sleeping on rocks, and hardly ate good
food. On seeing the state of the people of their village, four philanthropists decided they
would serve them.
The first one decided he would offer warm clothes, shoes, and socks to the people who
were dying of cold. So, he did! He thought he did the best deed, and walked away happily!
The second man decided, he would provide blankets, and a cozy bed and a pillow for all
the prisoners to sleep, and so, he did! He thought he did the best deed, and walked away
happily!
The third philanthropist watched the people crave for good good; she decided to offer
them a healthy meal and clean drinking water every day. So, she did! She thought she
had done the best deed of all, and she walked away happily!
The fourth little man wondered, “What am I to do for my people?” He woke up in the
middle of the night, sneaked into the prison, stole the key from the guard, and released
all of them! And, the people walked away happily…
- www.inspiringstories-soulheartmind.com
31