Something to reflect upon

[sundaymorningstaple]

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together
to visit their old University of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation
soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and
returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -
porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and
exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer 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. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the
cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each
other's cups."

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society
are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the
quality of Life doesn't change."

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the
coffee in it."

[klm]

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together
to visit their old University of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation
soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and
returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -
porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and
exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer 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. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the
cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each
other's cups."

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society
are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the
quality of Life doesn't change."

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the
coffee in it."

So does that also sounds as your philosophy of life?

[stefania]

Thanks SMS, life is so much more than materialistic gains.

Just wanted to say something....i had a nightmare last night in which i passed away young. No one was with me when it happened in my nightmare. When i woke up, i felt disturbed and depressed. All day i've been thinking about life and death and about how ive been living my life. I realised that if such a thing were to happen, i would have missed out on so many things and so many opportunities which i have yet to take and half the things are shallow and doesnt really matter materialistically.....im rambling, im bad with deep thinking stuff and haven't fully recovered from being "dead" but life is much more, so much more...

[sundaymorningstaple]

So does that also sounds as your philosophy of life?

klm,

Yes, to a large degree it does. I gave up a very good position on my 29 birthday to do what I wanted to do. I divested myself of a nice brick home, two new cars and bought a 14 year old van and for the next 17 years did what I previously paid to do (diving) for about 40% of my previous salary. Today, I still do not own a new car, and in fact, here in Singapore where I've lived for the past 23 years I haven't owned a car for 14 years since the MRT Nth-Sth line first started in 87 or 88.

stef,

I follow my own drummer and have done so for many years. I can honestly say that if I were to become an invalid tomorrow, I would have no regrets and neither would I ever have to say "I wish I had done that when I was younger!" I have done everything I have ever wanted to do only because I don't listen to other's ideas of what is proper or not. I was a Chopper pilot in the Nam, a Tax Accountant in Washington DC. A Commercial Diving Superintendent all over the world. I've skydived, paraglided, sailplaned, and bungee jumped. I ski...both snow & water as well as surf and used to race Class D sportcar. I could go on.....

Remember only one thing....You only go around once in this life. live it like YOU want. We could all die tomorrow. Live each day like it's you last.

sms

[cinder]

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together
to visit their old University of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation
soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and
returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -
porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and
exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer 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. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the
cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each
other's cups."

"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society
are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the
quality of Life doesn't change."

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the
coffee in it."

Wow. That's nice. Thanks for sharing.

[Charlie]

SMS, ar you a chicken or a hawk?

[Carpe Diem]

SMS, I am sure you also know this one...

A high school science teacher wanted to demonstrate a concept to his students. He takes a large-mouth jar and places several large rocks in it. He then asks the class, "Is it full?
"Unanimously, the class reply, "Yes!"

The teacher then takes a bucket of gravel and pours it into the jar. The small rocks settle into the spaces between the big rocks.
He then asks the class, "Is it full?"
This time there are some students holding back, but most reply, "Yes!"

The teacher then produces a large can of sand and proceeds to pour it into the jar. The sand fills up the spaces between the gravel.
For the third time, the teacher asks, "Is it full?
"Now most of the students are wary of answering, but again, many reply, "Yes!"

Then the teacher brings out a pitcher of water and pours it into the jar. The water saturates the sand. At this point the teacher asks the class, "What is the point of this demonstration?"
One bright young student raises his hand and then responds, "No matter how full one's schedule is in life, he can always squeeze in more things!"

"No," replies the teacher, "The point is that unless you first place the big rocks into the jar, you are never going to get them in. The big rocks are the important things in your life ...your family, your friends, your personal growth. If you fill your life with small things, as demonstrated by the gravel, the sand, and the water...you will never have the time for the important things.

So, what are the "Big Rocks" in your life? Spending time with your children, your parents or your spouse? Taking the seminar or class to get the information and perspective you need to succeed? Making the time to set goals, plan or evaluate your progress? When you are hassled because there is no time, remember the story about the Big Rocks and the Jar!

[sapphire]

I think WIMH's sign off line is just so appropriate for this thread. Absolutely love it!
Its also apt for 'unthinkable's' thread. Actually, its just apt for everyone!

[whatalark]

With reference to SMS' opening post and Carpe Diem's, I wish people did learn to live that way. Maybe the suicide rate would go down and depression wouldn't be so prevalent.

[sundaymorningstaple]

SMS, ar you a chicken or a hawk?

Both. I'm a Chicken Hawk. Look it up. I also know how to fly, not just peck around in the gravel of the barnyard.

sms

[sundaymorningstaple]

CD,

Yep, saw it many years ago before the advent of the internet and email as a matter of fact. It is so true.

sms

[Wind In My Hair]

I think WIMH's sign off line is just so appropriate for this thread. Absolutely love it!
Its also apt for 'unthinkable's' thread. Actually, its just apt for everyone!

hello? did someone call my name? thanks sapphire!

i have something to share on this thread... a mother teaching her daughter about life took her to the kitchen where three pots of water were boiling. she put into one a carrot, into another an egg, and into the third a coffee bean. after a while she asked the daughter what happened. the carrot had gone limp, the egg had hardened, and the coffee bean had made the water into coffee. lesson: which are you? do you allow life to change you, or do you change your life?

[Charlie]

SMS, ar you a chicken or a hawk?

Both. I'm a Chicken Hawk. Look it up. I also know how to fly, not just peck around in the gravel of the barnyard.

sms

No need to. I read the book

[ChloeInSydney]

A few yrs back in Italy a very young girl was found wandering on her own alone by a very busy *and therefore a dangerous* freeway and crying. For a long time *couldn't remember the exact time,1 hr 2 hrs??* cars just drove past her and completely ignored her. Eventually she was picked up by some passers-by and they found out her father had a stroke and had slumped inside the car not far up the freeway.

Italy went into soul-searching with the media going full bitz on the state of the nation and how ppl had their priorities wrong. The nation is tops in fashion but what had happened to the big C, compassion.