Life is Like Coffee

This was sent to me today via email, but it was so relevant for today's society, I had to pass it on to you.

COFFEE

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers,
got together for a visit with their old university professor. The
conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress
of work and life in general.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and
soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment
of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive,
some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some
fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the
old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address
the small gathering. ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking
cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones.
While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that
is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems."

He continued. "Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee.
In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each
of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for
the best cups. Then you began eyeing each other's cups.''

''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are
merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of
cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live.
Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God
has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups.
Enjoy your coffee!''

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. Leave the Rest to God. And remember - the richest
person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Sip slowly the coffee that comes your way, and enjoy!
Sandy