We had our weekly sales meeting this morning and my broker shared with us something that she found. I asked her to email it to me so I could share with all my ActiveRainers.
Life is the Coffee!
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The 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 and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but 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's 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 began eyeing each other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, houses, cars, things, 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 God has provided us."
God brews the coffee, not the cups . . . enjoy your coffee.
"Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections" Live in peace and peace will live in you.
How true is this in our profession? I remember when I first started I would look around at a few of the agents in my office who seemed to live there. I specifically remember telling myself that I did NOT want to be like that. But something happened in between then and now and sometimes I catch myself being exactly what I didn't want to become. What is the point of working so hard if it means sacrificing things that are important to us like time with our friends and family? There is NONE! Slooooooooooooowwwww doooooooooooooowwwnn. Take time for yourself and sit back and enjoy the coffee!
Joan, I know it can be difficult but, I also know it can be done. You have to SCHEDULE time for yourself. Even if it is one day a week or even a half day. You need to try and have time that you don't have to do anything. You should use that time and try to do something that you really enjoy. I'm no talking about taking time and using it to clean your house (unless of course you truly enjoy cleaning). Take the time and have some fun!
You're right Diane, the only thing that will matter in the end is what's inside.
Chris, I hope it makes it to everyone. I think they could all use it.
I'm late to the party - but your story is cool. And all this time I thought Life was like a box of Chocolates :-D
"God brews the cofee- not the cups ...Enjoy the Cofee" -Too Cool - Great Advice.
One of my Professors said, "Happiness is not getting what you want - It's wanting what you get!"
Being the Java-Junkie I am :) it will be pinned to my wall by 10:00 am tomorrow morning :o)!