Life is a cup of coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about the endless 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 eclectic assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He told the group to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "You may have noticed that all the nice looking expensive cups were 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 the Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that has been provided us.
"The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything…So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Enjoy your coffee!"
3 comments:
This is why I LOVE stopping by your blog M! What a wonderful message and lovely photo too.
Funny, I've been thinking about my mom's beautiful teacup collection (stored in boxes right now :<( ) and how she always brought out 'the good cups' when people stopped in for coffee. 'Why save them for another day' she use to say, why indeed although most people do, don't they, always putting off for another day.
Your sentiment hit home today for me, even more than usual. Thanks again and have a great day!!!
Hi G,
Would you believe, I actually went to a tea party Saturday afternoon and there was a large table just covered with a beautiful collection of different china tea cups. (Wish I had a picture of that!)
On Sunday, a friend of mine sent me the coffee story about the cups.
I just couldn't resist putting those two experiences together. :)
Some of the old traditions were so special, nice to see that some are making a comeback as in the popularity of 'afternoon tea' re-emerging.
Happy Valentine's Day M!!!
Post a Comment