Hot Chocolate Story

[Lori]

I got this from a friend and thought it a good story.

THE HOT CHOCOLATE STORY

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 others 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 we have.

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. Be thankful
for your blessings and enjoy your hot chocolate!