Stories to share
Stories are like dehydrated onions – a dried out experience. They are not the original experience but they are much more than nothing at all. You think about a story, you turn it over in your mind, and it becomes something else.So add hot water. It’s not fresh onion – fresh experience – but it is something that can help us recognise experience when you come across it. Experiences follow patterns, which repeat themselves again and again...Stories can help you recognise the shape of an experience, to make sense of and deal with it. So you see what you may take for mere snippets of myth and legend encapsulate what you need to know to guide you on your way....
Indries Shah
I hope you enjoy the stories that over time will populate this page.
And please share with me, those that you enjoy.
The three fat fish - a tale of our time
This is a lovely story to illustrate the difference between wisdom (trusting your deep finely honed instincts), cleverness (trusting your brain to work something out) and stupidity (giving no thought to the future and hoping something will turn up).
August 2010
Three fat fish lived in a deep hidden pool near a river bend: one was wise, the other was clever and the third was stupid. They were fat because they ran the show in their fairly hidden and protected pool - and so any that visited - eels, insects, frogs, snake and of course other fish - they could eat. And then one day, three men found the pool - and as they approached one of them pointed out and spotted the fat lovely fish. And all of the fish could see that the men there pointing and excited. Now the wise fish acted immediately and without even saying goodbye, he was off - swimming to new places. And as did so he made a big splash and churned up the water in his rush to escape to waters new.
The clever fish, who also realised that there was a problem thought - I am going to have to outwit these men. The stupid fish didn't really see that there was a problem - maybe the men had just come to watch he reasoned. And anyway, he could hide at the deepest bottom of the pool. Clever fish knew though that this was risky - that something more needed to be done - as the men could have nets that could trawl along the bottom of the pool, however deep it was. But the more clever fish thought, he just could not come up with a plan that seemed watertight (if you will pardon the expression). "How to act and when - that was the question? I must analyse this predicament very carefully - systematically separating out all of the variables, creatively scrutinise tactical possibilities; and dynamically evolve an escape strategy." And as he thinks, the deeper he sinks. At last he decides that he needs information so he goes to inspect the inlet from the river. But when he got there he found that the men have covered this exit with some of their nets. The channel on the other side of the pond had also been covered he discovered as he swam across. "Damm" he says to himself. Luckily though he was clever enough to remember that "Panic solves nothing." And "there is nothing like pressure to concentrate the mind." And sure enough he came up with a brilliant plan. So what clever fish does is bite up a huge glob of filthy mud and swirls it about his mouth. It's awful but he manages it. And then he swims back to the surface, rolls over all limp and floats as if dead. And it works. One of the men notices clever fish floating, picks him up and smells him. "This one is dead and rotten" he shouts and throws clever fish onto the ground. Clever fish holds his breath and when the men are back at their work, he flips himself over and over until he reaches one of the channels beyond the netting, tumbles into the water with a smacking sound, spews the horrible mud and swims off to safety. Stupid fish is asleep at the bottom of the pool until the net closes around him.
Alas there is no escape for stupid fish and he ends up providing a quite delicious supper for the men and their families. And later the men tell endless stories of the "Two Big Ones That got away" but nobody ever believes them.
This is a lovely story to illustrate the difference between wisdom (trusting your deep finely honed instincts), cleverness (trusting your brain to work something out) and stupidity (giving no thought to the future and hoping something will turn up).
August 2010
Three fat fish lived in a deep hidden pool near a river bend: one was wise, the other was clever and the third was stupid. They were fat because they ran the show in their fairly hidden and protected pool - and so any that visited - eels, insects, frogs, snake and of course other fish - they could eat. And then one day, three men found the pool - and as they approached one of them pointed out and spotted the fat lovely fish. And all of the fish could see that the men there pointing and excited. Now the wise fish acted immediately and without even saying goodbye, he was off - swimming to new places. And as did so he made a big splash and churned up the water in his rush to escape to waters new.
The clever fish, who also realised that there was a problem thought - I am going to have to outwit these men. The stupid fish didn't really see that there was a problem - maybe the men had just come to watch he reasoned. And anyway, he could hide at the deepest bottom of the pool. Clever fish knew though that this was risky - that something more needed to be done - as the men could have nets that could trawl along the bottom of the pool, however deep it was. But the more clever fish thought, he just could not come up with a plan that seemed watertight (if you will pardon the expression). "How to act and when - that was the question? I must analyse this predicament very carefully - systematically separating out all of the variables, creatively scrutinise tactical possibilities; and dynamically evolve an escape strategy." And as he thinks, the deeper he sinks. At last he decides that he needs information so he goes to inspect the inlet from the river. But when he got there he found that the men have covered this exit with some of their nets. The channel on the other side of the pond had also been covered he discovered as he swam across. "Damm" he says to himself. Luckily though he was clever enough to remember that "Panic solves nothing." And "there is nothing like pressure to concentrate the mind." And sure enough he came up with a brilliant plan. So what clever fish does is bite up a huge glob of filthy mud and swirls it about his mouth. It's awful but he manages it. And then he swims back to the surface, rolls over all limp and floats as if dead. And it works. One of the men notices clever fish floating, picks him up and smells him. "This one is dead and rotten" he shouts and throws clever fish onto the ground. Clever fish holds his breath and when the men are back at their work, he flips himself over and over until he reaches one of the channels beyond the netting, tumbles into the water with a smacking sound, spews the horrible mud and swims off to safety. Stupid fish is asleep at the bottom of the pool until the net closes around him.
Alas there is no escape for stupid fish and he ends up providing a quite delicious supper for the men and their families. And later the men tell endless stories of the "Two Big Ones That got away" but nobody ever believes them.
Kalila and Dimna by Ramsay Wood
Coin Story
One of my favourites. How to let go and reframe.
July 2010
There was an old man who lived with his wife on the edge of a town a long time ago and it was his custom to walk into the town each morning to have a coffee in the square. Now on this particular morning as he walked along the familiar path into the town he happened to glance down and noticed something glistening in front of him. He stooped down and picked up an old coin. The coin was not of the country he lived in and he thought perhaps it might be from the country that neighboured his. Anyway he picked it up and walked on.
Now as he was sitting down in the café and enjoying the warm sun, a stranger sat down beside him. He was in a hurry and having to leave the country quickly and was desperate for coins he could use at his destination in the neighbouring country. And he took the coin from our old man and in exchange gave him three silver coins.
As luck would have it, a man at the next table had overhead this exchange and came over and said that he was a silversmith looking for silver to complete an urgent commission. And he would give the old man three gold pieces for those three silver pieces. As you can imagine, after the delight and surprise of this, our old friend was even happier relaxing in the square. But, there was more adventure for him as you will not be surprised to know. Another man rushed into the café in a state of distress saying that he was desperate for wealth that he could put in his pocket - gold coins would be best. So much so that he would exchange his warehouse full of blankets if he could find just three gold coins. And as he was waving the deeds of the warehouse in front of him, our old friend got up, went with the stranger to just beyond the edge of the square to inspect the warehouse and found himself, before he knew it, the proud owner of an amazing new facility. And before he could even begin to contemplate what this new situation might mean for him, a king’s representative rode into town – proclaiming that the country was at war and the king needed to buy provisions for his soldiers and horses – including blankets. The old man spoke up and after inspecting the warehouse, the king’s soldier gave the old man two bags of gold in exchange.
It was time to go home and the man arose, placing the bags in his inside jacket pocket and walked happily back to his house. But he did not know that he was being followed – by a couple of ruffians that had seen everything that had happened that morning. And as he approached his house, with his wife waiting at the gate to greet him, these two scoundrels, jumped on him, threw him to the ground and took the gold.
Luckily the old man was not seriously hurt and he stumbled up and to his wife. ‘How are you husband’ she asked with alarm ‘and what was it that those two men took from you?’
‘Yes I am fine, my dear wife and those men – well they took nothing – just an old coin.’
One of my favourites. How to let go and reframe.
July 2010
There was an old man who lived with his wife on the edge of a town a long time ago and it was his custom to walk into the town each morning to have a coffee in the square. Now on this particular morning as he walked along the familiar path into the town he happened to glance down and noticed something glistening in front of him. He stooped down and picked up an old coin. The coin was not of the country he lived in and he thought perhaps it might be from the country that neighboured his. Anyway he picked it up and walked on.
Now as he was sitting down in the café and enjoying the warm sun, a stranger sat down beside him. He was in a hurry and having to leave the country quickly and was desperate for coins he could use at his destination in the neighbouring country. And he took the coin from our old man and in exchange gave him three silver coins.
As luck would have it, a man at the next table had overhead this exchange and came over and said that he was a silversmith looking for silver to complete an urgent commission. And he would give the old man three gold pieces for those three silver pieces. As you can imagine, after the delight and surprise of this, our old friend was even happier relaxing in the square. But, there was more adventure for him as you will not be surprised to know. Another man rushed into the café in a state of distress saying that he was desperate for wealth that he could put in his pocket - gold coins would be best. So much so that he would exchange his warehouse full of blankets if he could find just three gold coins. And as he was waving the deeds of the warehouse in front of him, our old friend got up, went with the stranger to just beyond the edge of the square to inspect the warehouse and found himself, before he knew it, the proud owner of an amazing new facility. And before he could even begin to contemplate what this new situation might mean for him, a king’s representative rode into town – proclaiming that the country was at war and the king needed to buy provisions for his soldiers and horses – including blankets. The old man spoke up and after inspecting the warehouse, the king’s soldier gave the old man two bags of gold in exchange.
It was time to go home and the man arose, placing the bags in his inside jacket pocket and walked happily back to his house. But he did not know that he was being followed – by a couple of ruffians that had seen everything that had happened that morning. And as he approached his house, with his wife waiting at the gate to greet him, these two scoundrels, jumped on him, threw him to the ground and took the gold.
Luckily the old man was not seriously hurt and he stumbled up and to his wife. ‘How are you husband’ she asked with alarm ‘and what was it that those two men took from you?’
‘Yes I am fine, my dear wife and those men – well they took nothing – just an old coin.’
Defeating the Ivy
This is a wonderful confidence booster
june2010
There was once a wooden house that stood alone in a wood. The house loved it when someone lived inside. He felt wanted – as if he had a purpose. Sometimes, when the winter wind blew cold around the house, the person living inside would light a fire.
“Ahhh!” thought the house, as its wooden slats became warm and comfortable. Just as the house felt the warmth of the fire, so the person living inside felt safe and protected by the wooden building.
When the seasons changed and the sun came down through the trees, the occupier of the house sat in the doorway, peacefully smoking a pipe. The sweet smell of the tobacco merged with the smell of summer and the birdsong in the trees. All was well.
Sad to say, the man moved out of the house. There were no logs stacked at the side under a tarpaulin, no sounds of activity inside the house and no sign of anyone coming by that way.
Although there were trees and birds and the distant sound of a stream, the house felt bereft and alone. He began to feel anxious and wondered what would happen to him if it continued. He listened out for the sounds of humans but heard nothing. He waited for someone to stack logs ready for the approaching winter –no one appeared. The house became colder and colder as the temperature dropped.
In spring when the birds sang in the early morning, found mates and built nests, all the plants began to come alive with new growth. Some ivy that had grown up the side of the house found its way into the smallest cracks in the wooden panels. As the sun shone and the rain fell, the ivy grew and grew until it had covered the whole side of the wooden house and begun to grow over the roof, creep in through the windows and through the floor. The house didn’t want the ivy there and felt as if it was strangling him. In his anxiety he resisted, terrified that it seemed to have a kind of power. If the ivy won the battle, no human would even see the house, let alone want to live there.
Time past and the ivy grew inside the house and if you were to stand outside, you would hear creaks and groans made by the wood. The house was trying to speak, to chant spells, anything to ward off the encroachment of the advancing ivy.
One day, a human walked past the house and looked at it but walked away. The house felt by now it was losing the battle but could no longer remember what the battle was. It was as if he was the ivy, creeping and growing.
Then the human returned and hacked back the ivy from the doors and windows and left. The house felt better and remembered then what the battle was. It was between him and the ivy. He was a wooden house, he was not the ivy, not any plant – he was a strong wooden house – stronger than a few leaves on a stalk! The house became aware of every part of his structure; he became aware of all he knew and understood about being who he was. With every fibre of wood, he felt a new strength he’d never felt before. He could repel leaves and stalks. The ivy loosened its grip and began to shrink back. As so often happens, one success leads to another and by the time the human returned, some days later, the ivy had died right back. The human removed the last bit of ivy and painted the wooden panels.
The sun was setting in a golden and red sky when the human left, and as he watched the sun go down and the blue of the sky turn to deep dusk, the wooden house felt good. He knew that even if no human came to live there, he was happy in this wood, in this time, standing strong and proud in who he was.
This is a wonderful confidence booster
june2010
There was once a wooden house that stood alone in a wood. The house loved it when someone lived inside. He felt wanted – as if he had a purpose. Sometimes, when the winter wind blew cold around the house, the person living inside would light a fire.
“Ahhh!” thought the house, as its wooden slats became warm and comfortable. Just as the house felt the warmth of the fire, so the person living inside felt safe and protected by the wooden building.
When the seasons changed and the sun came down through the trees, the occupier of the house sat in the doorway, peacefully smoking a pipe. The sweet smell of the tobacco merged with the smell of summer and the birdsong in the trees. All was well.
Sad to say, the man moved out of the house. There were no logs stacked at the side under a tarpaulin, no sounds of activity inside the house and no sign of anyone coming by that way.
Although there were trees and birds and the distant sound of a stream, the house felt bereft and alone. He began to feel anxious and wondered what would happen to him if it continued. He listened out for the sounds of humans but heard nothing. He waited for someone to stack logs ready for the approaching winter –no one appeared. The house became colder and colder as the temperature dropped.
In spring when the birds sang in the early morning, found mates and built nests, all the plants began to come alive with new growth. Some ivy that had grown up the side of the house found its way into the smallest cracks in the wooden panels. As the sun shone and the rain fell, the ivy grew and grew until it had covered the whole side of the wooden house and begun to grow over the roof, creep in through the windows and through the floor. The house didn’t want the ivy there and felt as if it was strangling him. In his anxiety he resisted, terrified that it seemed to have a kind of power. If the ivy won the battle, no human would even see the house, let alone want to live there.
Time past and the ivy grew inside the house and if you were to stand outside, you would hear creaks and groans made by the wood. The house was trying to speak, to chant spells, anything to ward off the encroachment of the advancing ivy.
One day, a human walked past the house and looked at it but walked away. The house felt by now it was losing the battle but could no longer remember what the battle was. It was as if he was the ivy, creeping and growing.
Then the human returned and hacked back the ivy from the doors and windows and left. The house felt better and remembered then what the battle was. It was between him and the ivy. He was a wooden house, he was not the ivy, not any plant – he was a strong wooden house – stronger than a few leaves on a stalk! The house became aware of every part of his structure; he became aware of all he knew and understood about being who he was. With every fibre of wood, he felt a new strength he’d never felt before. He could repel leaves and stalks. The ivy loosened its grip and began to shrink back. As so often happens, one success leads to another and by the time the human returned, some days later, the ivy had died right back. The human removed the last bit of ivy and painted the wooden panels.
The sun was setting in a golden and red sky when the human left, and as he watched the sun go down and the blue of the sky turn to deep dusk, the wooden house felt good. He knew that even if no human came to live there, he was happy in this wood, in this time, standing strong and proud in who he was.
Hilary Farmer
Carrots, Eggs and Coffee
So who are you?
may2010
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one grew. And often everything she tried seemed to make things worse or have no effect.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the third she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.
She picked the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter she asked “Tell me, what do you see?”
“Carrots, eggs and coffee” she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally the mother asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked “What does this mean, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique. However, after they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”
Think of this: Which am I? Am I a carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough or feeling helpless or just waiting for something to happen with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
So who are you?
may2010
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one grew. And often everything she tried seemed to make things worse or have no effect.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the third she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.
She picked the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter she asked “Tell me, what do you see?”
“Carrots, eggs and coffee” she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally the mother asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked “What does this mean, mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique. However, after they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”
Think of this: Which am I? Am I a carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough or feeling helpless or just waiting for something to happen with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Two Wolves
A well know metaphorical story with a powerful, accessible and widely adaptable teaching
april2010
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, fear, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
A well know metaphorical story with a powerful, accessible and widely adaptable teaching
april2010
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, fear, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Welcome to Holland
This story was submitted on our Human Givens practitioner forum by Janine Hurley - a story that can be used in a number of therapeutic situation.
march 2010
When you are going to have a baby, its like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy - after months of anticipation , the big day finally arrives. The plane lands and the flight attendant announces - "welcome to Holland". You say - "what do you mean - Holland? I signed up for Italy. I am supposed to be in Italy"
All my life I have dreamed of going to Italy! But there has been a change in the flight plan, the plane has landed in Holland, and there you must stay. The important thing is - they haven't taken you to some horrible or disgusting place, its just a different place.
So, you must go out and buy some new guide books, you must learn a whole new language, and you will meet a whole group of new people you would never have met.
Its just a different place, its slower paced than Italy. But after you have been there for a while, you catch your breath, you begin to notice Holland has windmills, has tulips and Holland even has Rembrandts!
But everyone you know is going and coming from Italy, and bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say " yes, that’s where I supposed to go, that's what I'd planned."
And the pain and disappointment will never go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, and very unique, and the very lovely things about Holland.
This story was submitted on our Human Givens practitioner forum by Janine Hurley - a story that can be used in a number of therapeutic situation.
march 2010
When you are going to have a baby, its like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy - after months of anticipation , the big day finally arrives. The plane lands and the flight attendant announces - "welcome to Holland". You say - "what do you mean - Holland? I signed up for Italy. I am supposed to be in Italy"
All my life I have dreamed of going to Italy! But there has been a change in the flight plan, the plane has landed in Holland, and there you must stay. The important thing is - they haven't taken you to some horrible or disgusting place, its just a different place.
So, you must go out and buy some new guide books, you must learn a whole new language, and you will meet a whole group of new people you would never have met.
Its just a different place, its slower paced than Italy. But after you have been there for a while, you catch your breath, you begin to notice Holland has windmills, has tulips and Holland even has Rembrandts!
But everyone you know is going and coming from Italy, and bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say " yes, that’s where I supposed to go, that's what I'd planned."
And the pain and disappointment will never go away, because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, and very unique, and the very lovely things about Holland.
Emily Pearl Kingsley - a mother of a child with Down's syndrome and who has campaigned vigorously to raise the profile and awareness.
Cracked Pots
A well known story that celebrates flaws and differences
february 2010
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of
a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked
pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water..
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it could only do ha lf of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to
the woman one day by the stream.
'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to
leak out all the way back to your house.'
The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your
side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?'
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you water them.'
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty
to grace the house.'
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we
each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the
good in them.
SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to
smell the flowers on your side of the path!
Don't forget the Cracked Pot that sent it to you!!
A well known story that celebrates flaws and differences
february 2010
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of
a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and
always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked
pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home
only one and a half pots of water..
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and
miserable that it could only do ha lf of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to
the woman one day by the stream.
'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to
leak out all the way back to your house.'
The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your
side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?'
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted
flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk
back, you water them.'
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty
to grace the house.'
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we
each have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the
good in them.
SO, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to
smell the flowers on your side of the path!
Don't forget the Cracked Pot that sent it to you!!
The Man on the Train
A powerful tale of a man who takes a logical path to an illogical conclusion
february 2010
A young guy is sitting on a train opposite a wealthy looking older man, evidently a stray from the First Class section, which has been closed off for some reason. They are the only ones in the carriage and, after a while, the young man asks what time it is, but the older fellow just stares out of the window. The young man has heard the other man speak to the guard, so he knows the man is neither stone deaf nor dumb. He asks again, a little more loudly. You can almost hear, above the clickety-clack of the train, the ticking of the large, half-visible gold Rolex amidst thick but greying wrist hair, but the older man some¬how manages to avoid his travelling companion's eye and continues to ignore him. Eventually, the young man says very loudly, PLEASE! I ONLY WANT TO KNOW THE TIME!
The older man finally looks straight at him. "Look,1 he says firm¬ly, in heavily accented English, let me tell you something. You ask me the time and you know I have a watch and I don't speak to you. Why? Because I am naturally friendly and I know this. I am naturally friendly and inquisitive and generous and, in any other circumstance, I would follow the traditions of my own country, which command me to be friendly and generous and also politely inquisitive. But today, if I tell you the time, what happens? We begin to talk. I tell you all about myself and you tell me all about yourself. We swap jokes, opinions, ideas, the way people do on trains. And then we get to our stop and we get out and I offer you a lift, because I know myself and I know that I am naturally generous and my tradition is generous. And you, being young, will take advantage and accept my offer of a little hospitality at my house. Why not? I am rich and you are poor, so why not? You will meet my daughter, my lovely daughter. She is as beautiful as I am ugly. You are handsome and she will like you and you will talk and you will get on and one thing will lead to another and, the next thing I know, you will come to me and tell me you are moving in together. Now, I have to tell you that I really don't want my beautiful daughter getting mixed up with someone who can't afford a watch!'
A powerful tale of a man who takes a logical path to an illogical conclusion
february 2010
A young guy is sitting on a train opposite a wealthy looking older man, evidently a stray from the First Class section, which has been closed off for some reason. They are the only ones in the carriage and, after a while, the young man asks what time it is, but the older fellow just stares out of the window. The young man has heard the other man speak to the guard, so he knows the man is neither stone deaf nor dumb. He asks again, a little more loudly. You can almost hear, above the clickety-clack of the train, the ticking of the large, half-visible gold Rolex amidst thick but greying wrist hair, but the older man some¬how manages to avoid his travelling companion's eye and continues to ignore him. Eventually, the young man says very loudly, PLEASE! I ONLY WANT TO KNOW THE TIME!
The older man finally looks straight at him. "Look,1 he says firm¬ly, in heavily accented English, let me tell you something. You ask me the time and you know I have a watch and I don't speak to you. Why? Because I am naturally friendly and I know this. I am naturally friendly and inquisitive and generous and, in any other circumstance, I would follow the traditions of my own country, which command me to be friendly and generous and also politely inquisitive. But today, if I tell you the time, what happens? We begin to talk. I tell you all about myself and you tell me all about yourself. We swap jokes, opinions, ideas, the way people do on trains. And then we get to our stop and we get out and I offer you a lift, because I know myself and I know that I am naturally generous and my tradition is generous. And you, being young, will take advantage and accept my offer of a little hospitality at my house. Why not? I am rich and you are poor, so why not? You will meet my daughter, my lovely daughter. She is as beautiful as I am ugly. You are handsome and she will like you and you will talk and you will get on and one thing will lead to another and, the next thing I know, you will come to me and tell me you are moving in together. Now, I have to tell you that I really don't want my beautiful daughter getting mixed up with someone who can't afford a watch!'
from Transforming Tales by Rob Parkinson
Father Son or Horse?
Sometimes you really must make up your own mind and not listen to others
january 2010
A farmer who lives in the country says to his son: "Today is market day; let's go to town to buy a few things that we need."
They decide to bring a horse with them in order to carry their purchases. They leave very early in the morn¬ing for the market: the horse without a load and they on foot.
Along the road they come upon some men who are returning from town. Those men then say that neither the father nor the son seems very wise, for they are walk¬ing while the horse goes without a load. Upon hear¬ing this, the father asks for his son's opinion. The latter admits that the men are right and that, as the horse doesn't have a load, one of them should mount it. So, the father orders his son to mount, and they continue on their way.
A little later they meet another group of men return¬ing from the town. These men state that the father is crazy because, old and tired, he walks, while his son, so young and robust, rides on the horse. The father asks his son's advice and the latter declares that, in effect, the men are right. And so the son gets down from the horse and the father gets on.
Some minutes later other men who are returning from the market criticize the father. According to them a young boy so weak should not walk. Therefore the father has his son mount the horse and neither of the two walk then.
Further on they meet other men who are also returning from the town and they also criticize the father as well as the son. They say:
"How can a horse so scrawny carry two men so big and heavy?"
The father asks his son what they should do in order not to be criticized anymore and finally they reach the conclusion that the only alternative is to carry the horse. So, father and son arrive at the market with the horse on their shoulders, but in spite of this, many criticize them.
Sometimes you really must make up your own mind and not listen to others
january 2010
A farmer who lives in the country says to his son: "Today is market day; let's go to town to buy a few things that we need."
They decide to bring a horse with them in order to carry their purchases. They leave very early in the morn¬ing for the market: the horse without a load and they on foot.
Along the road they come upon some men who are returning from town. Those men then say that neither the father nor the son seems very wise, for they are walk¬ing while the horse goes without a load. Upon hear¬ing this, the father asks for his son's opinion. The latter admits that the men are right and that, as the horse doesn't have a load, one of them should mount it. So, the father orders his son to mount, and they continue on their way.
A little later they meet another group of men return¬ing from the town. These men state that the father is crazy because, old and tired, he walks, while his son, so young and robust, rides on the horse. The father asks his son's advice and the latter declares that, in effect, the men are right. And so the son gets down from the horse and the father gets on.
Some minutes later other men who are returning from the market criticize the father. According to them a young boy so weak should not walk. Therefore the father has his son mount the horse and neither of the two walk then.
Further on they meet other men who are also returning from the town and they also criticize the father as well as the son. They say:
"How can a horse so scrawny carry two men so big and heavy?"
The father asks his son what they should do in order not to be criticized anymore and finally they reach the conclusion that the only alternative is to carry the horse. So, father and son arrive at the market with the horse on their shoulders, but in spite of this, many criticize them.
Don Juan Manuel
