Life is like a cup of coffee…
I’ve shared this video clip already on Facebook but I really like it so much that I thought I would just post it here too.
Well, for those of you who are unable to access Facebook or watch any Youtube video clip (for obvious reasons), here’s what it’s all about…
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, 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.
Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.”
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
For more inspiring stuff, do drop by this website:
http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/
Who knows, you may find some that may be of interest and relevance to you…
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
7 early 8 early in the morning already read inspirational story. What a good way to start a day, aye?
Cannot have food all the time bah! Sometimes must have food for thought also! LOL!!!
Also food what, literally speaking. Does that explains why so few comment when it’s already 9.40am? By the way, the two idiots go other place for their Shakespeare-sque innuendos eh? (Like I care. Bahaha!) Well, at least they GET IT! LOL!
Why? Dying for someone to ketuk, izzit? See, you’ve scared everybody away! LOL!!! But I think it’s because uni holiday right now…and not internet access at home! Probably that’s the reason…
So true. Thanks for reminding me.
Welcome. All of us need to be reminded time and time again…as in our daily pursuits, we tend to forget…
Thank you for sharing this. It means a lot.
Welcome…I love the message it’s trying to convey. How often we forget to savour and enjoy life and see it for what it is…and end up being unhappy in our pursuit of our elusive dreams and schemes.
Wow! It hits me really hard with this one. A great motivational and inspiring write up. Our life is like a coffee. 😀 I always love to drink coffee.
That’s good! Keep drinking and enjoy it…
And I always thought Life is like a box of chocolates…heheh.
Speaking of coffee… the tea lady has yet to serve me mine today. Must be on leave.
I guess it’s a box of chocs sometimes…as we never know what to expect and what we’ll get. Wah! Got tea lady to serve you…so nice!
Having my cup of coffee in office now with a mug given by a kind staff when I first arrived here in KK. At that time, I even did not have a mug! The mug is really a sore to my eyes. But, because it holds kindness, the Nescafe in it gives more warmth!
Sharing with you and your blog followers this one –
I’m Drinking From My Saucer
I’ve never made a fortune,
and it’s probably too late now.
But I don’t worry about that much,
I’m happy anyhow.
And as I go along life’s way,
I’m reaping better than I sowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
Haven’t got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going’s tough.
But I’ve got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He’s bestowed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed.
I’m drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I’ll not ask for other blessings,
I’m already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer,
‘Cause my cup has overflowed.
When I think of how many people
in this world have it worse than I do.
I realize just how lucky most of us really are.
Beautiful poem…and it certainly says it all. That’s why I find my life fulfilling and happy (though people may think I’m so disgustingly complacent, unambitious…)…for I have enough to get by comfortably and my cup runneth over with love from both family and friend… What more could I ask for?
I like this story but the quality of life does need money. It’s just like ambience, it plays an important role to the overall enjoyment.
True…but more often than not, people are blinded by their greed and live lives if wanting more…and more…and more…and lose whatever quality there may be! I guess this is why there are so many depressed and frustrated people around, though “successful” and “rich”…
like everyone else who has commented.. the message is really an eye-opener.. it makes me think.. now that if i dun go after all these stuffs that i’m after.. what is life then?
But sadly many do not know how much is enough and spend their whole life striving and struggling for more…and more…and at the end of the day, they find that despite all that they have, they have not had much of a life after all. The yin and the yang – strike a balance in all one does…
what a great parable ya..
as what happened this morning, I was looking for my favorite mug in the pantry (lazy to bring my own), and yet the better ones are all taken.. left the one others normally not use. my concerned was, the ones left are smaller, it would not hold my 3-in-1 Milo enough. I sighed, but took whatever is available.
The thing was, the Milo tasted so much better because I dont have to add to much water. It was just enough for the smaller cup capacity. What a delight!
aharks.. just the continuation from the Coffee mug parable..
There’s a whole lot of truth in this inspirational and motivational stuff…and most of the time, they’re things that we already know but too bad that very often, they seem to fall on deaf ears…
Yeah!life is like a cup of coffee,here is cafe latte,capuccino,flat white n someone requested for soya coffee the other day while yr end is kopi o,kopi kau,kopi pok,kopi pen but i love kopi with susu cap junjung,so what is it call?kopi guleng? 🙂
Gosh! You need a refresher course in kopi tiam lingo. Kopi-o is black coffee, kopi is coffee with sweetened creamer (no more condensed milk these days) and kopi-chee is coffee with evaporated milk…and if you add peng to any of the aforementioned, it is with ice…and kopi-o mien tai is black coffee without sugar…
What!No condensed milk! Speechless!!!Rolled eyes 360degrees,pengsan!!!sigh!!!
I thought you know that already? Pollie had to get the made-in-Singapore Hosen brand at one time for Gerrie. These days, we only have “sweetened creamer” in the shops – not as thick…and seems sweeter.
Got the original one here in Singapore. Will definitely bring back at least 2 tins. Have only enjoyed it with Nescafe…am contemplating bringing some to kopi-tiam in Kuching, order kopi-kosong and add my own condensed milk…LOL! I will so do it!
Ooo…used to love Nescafe with condensed milk…but these days, I only go for black coffee.
very nice indeed.. but we are still 20 plus hot blood wor.. will still go for fancy cups kot… hahhaa..
biar fail dulu, baru terasa.. hahaha
Just don’t get swallowed into the materialistic world of want…want and more want!
This phrase may not be very inspirational but i guess it’s somewhat true
‘Enjoy life. There’s plenty of time to be dead. ‘
True! True! But when I look at many students today, I wonder… Many seem more dead than alive! LOL!!!
live simply
love generously
care deeply
speak kindly
WHO CAN BE SO PERFECT??? LOL.
I think I am…or at least, I try…except maybe the last one! ROTFLMAO!!!
Well said. 😀 I really have nothing much to add except that it was apparent what kind of mentality the students had as soon as the sentence went
“Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.”
Then again, why should I add anything? The man’s a professor and I’m just a novice *blek* 😛
Haven’t you encountered people like that? They moan and groan and complain about everything under the sun, very negative, very pessimistic… I think most would avoid the company of such people – it just isn’t healthy and can be infectious!
Regrettably, that’s what I would do too. I am afraid of infections, mental more so than physical 😆
Just as it’s not proper to burden people with your money debts (which are physical), it’s also improper to burden people emotionally.
The negative vibes can’t be good for anybody. The feng shui master will also tell you the same thing!
I’d say I’ll take the bigger cup .. he he he. so that I’ll have more good coffee .. :p
read this somewhere. I think someone forward it to me and I think I did blog about this before – If i’m not mistaken. Can’t really recall because it was quite a while back. but i know it’s about cup and choices .. something like that
Greed, my friend. One of the seven deadliest sins…and you know what happens to people who are greedy! I posted this on Facebook…but then again, you were not able to go online last week. I don’t remember you posting anything like this before. Perhaps you should post more of such stuff, then perhaps you will not get your foot in your mouth?
The one where the cup were first filled with pebbles..then sand..and then water to fill the in-between air space has the same moral….
Don’t think I know this one. During one of the motivational/training sessions I was involved in prior to my retirement, I did come across one of the stories found in this website – “carrot, egg and coffee”…