Enjoy your hot chocolate

Maybe it's because I'm midlife and reevaluating what's really important in my life; maybe it's because I'm waxing philosophic this morning, or perhaps it's just because I'm neurotic (yes, I'm getting thereapy, thank you very much!!) but here's a parable that my wonderful friend Bob in Ohio forwarded to me in email today. It really struck a chord in me, and I had to share it. Some may say it's sappy sentimental crap, but it really has a good point. And I think the reason it struck a chord with me, is that what I've been trying to work on in my life recently, is to learn how to make the best of what I have, and enjoy life as it is, instead of "waiting" to enjoy life only when it's problem-free or stress-free, or perfect in some way.

Trying to overcome my perfectionism is one of my goals this year; that is one of the reasons I'm seeking help from a professional therapist. Trying to seek perfection, and thinking that I'm not allowed to be happy or enjoy my life until it's perfect is a futile pursuit. Truly, I will never be happy until the day I die if I wait to be happy until it's "perfect." I need to do more "living in the moment" instead of thinking, "I'll be happy when . . . " Midlife crisis? Probably. But this is my birthday gift to myself during this 50th year of my life. (Even though my birthday isn't until August, I'm trying to start saying that particular " f " word early, and hopefully by my birthday I'll be able to say it without cringing!)

As this little parable says: "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have." Sentimental folderol? Maybe. But it just resonated for me.

At any rate, yes this is sappy and sentimental but I like it.

The Cups

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.

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

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking expensive cups were taken, 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.

"The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, 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 hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.

"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have."

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

And enjoy your hot chocolate.

The End

My favorite part? "Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have."

The hot chocolate is the hot chocolate, no matter what cup it comes in. So enjoy your hot chocolate, whether it is served in a chipped cup or the finest of Limoges china. It still tastes the same.