At a college reunion, a group of old friends, now successful in their own careers, decided to visit their former professor. They laughed, shared updates, talked about promotions, families and achievements.
But slowly, the conversation changed.
From success to stress.
From accomplishments to exhaustion.
The professor listened quietly, then smiled.
“Give me a minute. I will make us some coffee.”
He returned with a tray filled with a pot of coffee and a collection of mismatched cups.
Some were elegant porcelain, some simple ceramic, and a few old glass ones, chipped but clean.
Everyone took a cup.
Then he said:
“Look at the cups you chose. Most of you went for the nicest ones. That is normal. But that is also why many people end up stressed. The cup does not change the taste of the coffee, does it?”
He continued,
“The coffee is your life.
The cups are your job, your money, your status and your possessions.
It is fine to enjoy nice things but do not let them distract you from what really matters, the coffee itself, the experience of living.”
He looked around and smiled.
“Happy people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of what they have and they enjoy the coffee.”
But slowly, the conversation changed.
From success to stress.
From accomplishments to exhaustion.
The professor listened quietly, then smiled.
“Give me a minute. I will make us some coffee.”
He returned with a tray filled with a pot of coffee and a collection of mismatched cups.
Some were elegant porcelain, some simple ceramic, and a few old glass ones, chipped but clean.
Everyone took a cup.
Then he said:
“Look at the cups you chose. Most of you went for the nicest ones. That is normal. But that is also why many people end up stressed. The cup does not change the taste of the coffee, does it?”
He continued,
“The coffee is your life.
The cups are your job, your money, your status and your possessions.
It is fine to enjoy nice things but do not let them distract you from what really matters, the coffee itself, the experience of living.”
He looked around and smiled.
“Happy people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of what they have and they enjoy the coffee.”
At a college reunion, a group of old friends, now successful in their own careers, decided to visit their former professor. They laughed, shared updates, talked about promotions, families and achievements.
But slowly, the conversation changed.
From success to stress.
From accomplishments to exhaustion.
The professor listened quietly, then smiled.
“Give me a minute. I will make us some coffee.”
He returned with a tray filled with a pot of coffee and a collection of mismatched cups.
Some were elegant porcelain, some simple ceramic, and a few old glass ones, chipped but clean.
Everyone took a cup.
Then he said:
“Look at the cups you chose. Most of you went for the nicest ones. That is normal. But that is also why many people end up stressed. The cup does not change the taste of the coffee, does it?”
He continued,
“The coffee is your life.
The cups are your job, your money, your status and your possessions.
It is fine to enjoy nice things but do not let them distract you from what really matters, the coffee itself, the experience of living.”
He looked around and smiled.
“Happy people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of what they have and they enjoy the coffee.”
