Thursday, November 27, 2008

Much Thanks

A group of alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for a visit with their old university professor.

The conversation soon turned to complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help themselves to some fresh coffee.

When each of his former students had a cup of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to patiently address the small gathering. ''You may have noticed that all of the nicer looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems."

He continued ''Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for the best cups. Then you began eyeing each other's cups.''

''Now consider this:
Life is coffee. Jobs, money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor change the quality of the Life we live. Often, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us. God brews the coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!''

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have So please remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the Rest to God.

And remember - the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.


todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that I am sober today and have many friends and acquaintenances to celebrate this special day with

that I've been sober for 1910 days

for the 12:15pm Gratitude meeting today at Lambda; it's the single, largest AA meeting annually there and I get to co-chair it this year alongside Bob S.

for the 2008 Houston Roundup which begins this afternoon and runs until noon Sunday

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

11 comments:

Bill said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, DAVE!!!!!

J-Online said...

Great Story! Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Dave!

Scott W said...

I knew you were fond of coffee, but I had no idea to what extent!

Happy Thanksgiving! See ya noonish.

Mary Christine said...

What a great story.

Happy Thanksgiving!

See you tomorrow!

Woo Hoo!!!!

Anonymous said...

yeah for roundup! happy thanksgiving!

peanut said...

I love the story about the coffee cups ! Had to print that, it's worth revisiting.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Round Up !

Break a leg at the show.

Love you dAAve

Todd HellsKitchen said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Buddy!

Anonymous said...

I love that.....I'd like to share that if its okay

Pammie said...

happy thanksgiving my friend.

Deepak said...

am Deepak from India and i was an alcoholic for 14 years and my lives had became unmanageable.And i lost my eye in an accident when i was drunk driving.I am not shammed to tell tehese because, i diserve it.I discontinued my education in the tenth class.After 14 years and hurting my parents i accepted and wanted to join in AA group in India.I understood the programme and now i am sober and i have a blog about Addiction,De-addiction,Abuse,Rehab info.And i also want to place a link in your site and help the addicted ones.

steveroni said...

The story: "I'll Drink to that! Gimme coffee please, in a plain wrapper"...

Have a ball this weekend dAAve, and all the Houston gang- and visitors.
Steve E.