Chinese proverb:

[DrEntropy]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]TWO POTS[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]pole which she carried across her neck.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]always delivered a full portion of water.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]pot arrived only half full.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]only one and a half pots of water.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the woman one day by the stream.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]leak out all the way back to your house."[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]water[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]them." "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]to decorate the table.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]to grace the house."[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Each of us has our own unique flaw.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]so very interesting and rewarding.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]good in them.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]To all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]the flowers, on your side of the path.[/FONT]

 

[Bayless]

Nice reminder Doc. Thanks.

 

[Basil]

That poem is actually something we read at the end of our NAMI Family to Family eduction course.

 

[JPSmit]

Very nice and a lovely reminder, but, Doc? you goin' all mushy on us? :grin:

 

[DrEntropy]

Very nice and a lovely reminder, but, Doc? you goin' all mushy on us? :grin:

Musta been the influence of th' shrimp fried rice I'd eaten while re-reading "The Dancing Wu Li Masters"!!

...I'll endeavor to exert more control. :smirk:

 

[JPSmit]

Musta been the influence of th' shrimp fried rice I'd eaten while re-reading "The Dancing Wu Li Masters"!!

...I'll endeavor to exert more control. :smirk:

Not gonna lie, when I saw the title of the post and your John Hancock I was expecting "May you live in interesting times," :grin:

 

[JPSmit]

Not gonna lie, when I saw the title of the post and your John Hancock I was expecting "May you live in interesting times," :grin:

edit: and because it is the humour section not the pub section. Your post was more true than funny if you know what I mean.