I received this great story by e-mail, not sure who wrote it, and felt Compelled to share. Sorry for those of you who already read it.
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the Stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? "
"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you we would have no beauty to grace the house."
We all have our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.
My Question: Where is your "crack" (as in flaw or imperfection for those of you with dirty minds) ? What flowers did it help you grow?
16 comments:
hahahahahahahahahaha UmmEl3yal
You've reminded me of a Beavis and Butthead scene: They were watching a TV ad about injury lawyers asking people to call them if they are injured and want to sue. One of two nuckleheads called in saying: Yeah, am injured. I have a big crack on my shesma! *e7em*
Miss you awal :*
1. This story beautifully illustrates 'my theory of love' (3ishtaw) hehe
2. Hmm.. My flaw? am 7anna :| but am too old to change now :)
Geart post again, hon :**
mom, mo 3ajbatni elgesa kelish melish
the perfect pot would in theory serve twice as many people with drinking water
and/or
if she had two perfect pots, then she could tip one of them to grow the flowers on her way back; and if something calls for a safer portion of water at home that day, then she will still have the option of going back with two full portions
ba7i6 dooby dob-ha w agool: if she can fix it, then she should fix it
if i dont point that out, then for all i know the next thing they'll be writing stories about is how "great" it is to have a "flawed building" with bricks falling down here and there or paint not applied correctly because it would "depict classical buildings" with refined architecture acquired along the years
Ghasheema El7akeema :)
MabroooooooK ;)
I know what you mean about getting bored :) But there are two ways around this, one is keeping things fresh and exciting by making sure you "learn" something new or stay challanged. The other is involving others. Sometimes when we commit ourselves to something with other people that gives us a motive to go on despite the bordem ;)
Witty,
LoooooL .. I really hate B & BH 7ywanat :))
Wallah I miss you too. I have been away and I am very far behind in my school work. Otherwise you would have seen me sooner on msn :)
We keep a pattern sometimes because it works ;) How does the 7na work for you? Would you really want to change that?
Temiiiiiiii,
Nice try ;) Are you saying that you're Mr. Perfect no flaws at all?! ;)
And yes, keeping old building is a great thing to do .. much better that being a color and history-less country :(
UmmEl3yal, hon :*
hehe Oh, I hate them as well, but that joke 'cracked' me up lol
But what school work? Are you studying or teaching? And don't worry about msn, it's all good, as long as we can get in touch here :) I am WAY WAY far behind myself :s
Hmm.. the 7anna is not working for me at all lol hate it, but can't help it, not because of lack of trying, I assure you. Yet, I have a friend of mine who loves it, because I can listen to her 7anna too and we never get tired of repeating the same subject over and over again lol. Nevertheless, I am only 7anna with people I know and 'amoon 3alaihom' :) <- that's my ultimate remedy and resolution :)
ok read my comment but dont hate me for it ... here it goes " im flawless " LOL
well, my disability or crack or what you might call it is that i function better at night rather than morning ! maybe my biological clock is not Swiss made hehehe but that effects my perfomance at work.
on the other hand, that crack gave me the ability to focus on what i did during mornings, and reconciliate :)
Tulips grow on my pathway :P
mother dearest,
not at all.. i'm not saying anything close to suggesting that i may be mr perfect with no flaws, shda3wa that's how you would see me :)
on the contrary, what i meant in what i said is that i will be more content working on my flaws than to just give in and stop trying being all that i can be if i put in the effort
or else, why study, why even care about being decent in the general sense.. it would just be "a flaw" which i could admit to and be done with the whole matter
then again, a "flaw" is a relative concept .. it may be considered by some that you have a flaw, but you yourself see it as a virtue
at any rate, that said, i don't think i need to go any further in showcasing one of my many flaws: i just argue and debate everything.. i cant even let an old chinese woman just be :P
seriously though, certain people point out to me that i am confrontational, i guess i am .. but i like to think of it more on the lines of "open for discussion without actually wanting to be either your enemy or your friend" .. something which from what i observe seems to be compulsory nowadays
another flaw i "suffer from", or so it seems, is that i differentiate between 'an opinion' and 'something somebody feels like saying'
i dont know, perhaps the most recurrent flaw a number of people refer me to is that i take matters seriously .. personally, i see that as courtesy, not a flaw
but what do i know :)
Witty 7obi,
I'm studying and I can use your 7na to make me pay enough attention to my school work ;)
El7ana 3ala elrabi3 7lal :))
Flawless Fuzzy, FF :))
Tulips are my favorite flowers. And I am a night person too :) So you are F. F. to me ;)
Temi dear,
That's a better answer ;)
Yes, a flaw is a relative term. So your flaw might be my greatest strenght. That what makes us different. Otherwise we will be clones of each others.
Yet, even in what I see as a flaw in me there are priorities and there are things that are easier adapted to than changed.
When you have a flaw that you can not afford to change .. then make the best of it :)
Ghasheema El7keema :))
I couldn't agree more! I know many parents for example who can not see any other option but abortion when they learn that they are carrying a baby with Down Syndrome. Yet, children with this disorder are capable of loving and caring for others beyond any "normal" child. Their flaws are blessings to their parents and their family!
As for my son Temi, you will learn that his seriousness is what makes him HIM :) He does smile sometimes though ;)
BTW, love you photo ;) Beautiful colors!
Ummel3yal eykhaleehom lech :*
I'm sinfull and full of flaws in every possible way and I know it and I hate it but.. I think I've improved a little and still improving by the day (hopefully.)
Well, my biggest flaw is that I'm now lazy and laid back. My second flaw is that my dignity comes first "lo 3ala gas ergobti" and that's most of the times painful coz it comes with a big cost. Thirdly, I never forgive myself for anything I did/do, self punishment kills me! that's partly cause I'm sort of a perfectionist! Lastly, I guess my temper is too high and I snap at people I love more than I do with whose who really caused my anger :/
According to Keirsey's Temperament test am an extrovert "ENFJ" yes I may be judgemental too but I'm getting introvert by the day.
According to NLP I'm a BIG chuncker and a visualizer. I'm definitely a visualizer but a big chuncker is debatable!
The list is long but let's call it off here ;)
Btw, I think there's something wrong with my PC, I just bought a new one the old one was driving me nuts, it doesnt refresh automatically therefore I miss your new posts all the time! Atbleast, Late better than never ;)
Love,
Geish@
Giesh@ love,
Perfectionism can be troublesome! You do get the satisfaction of a perfect performance (sometimes) but the effort and the guilt outweigh that feeling .. but its "curable" .. lol
Dignity is not a flaw to me ;) I guess this is one of the issues where the flawness is a relative term. Our heros are the ones who die protecting their dignity. So you should be proud of yourself even if the price is high :)
Sorry about the blog update. Many have the same problem. I don't know how to fix it :( But it's great to have you late than never :*
BB,
7yak Allah dear ,, great to have you in our little corner :)
Trust is one of the flaws that create many flowers :))
Despite the harsh hits we get from trusting the wrong people, we get more rewards by creating greater opportunities for beautiful relationships in our lives.
Hello..Dearrr :*
SORRY for the delay :(
Ashwaa ma sheltaw el film :)
Loved the story and its Wisdom, its great!
Ohh..YES, I have 2 cracks thats because I am so "FRAGILE"!
My first Flower : is my only son Mishaal (16 Yrs) he's a loving and well behaved boy, he's my whole life may God protect him.
My second Flower : all the achievements I have accomplished so far in my job.
Well ummele3yal I was the perfect example for your Post (No Prize?) :)
Again its a GREAT Post, from someone GREAT as uuu...
:*
Soo beautifull...
not because it sounds idealistic and views flaws like pros BUT because it grabs your attention to what you'd normally overlook.
I dare anyone who'd say that in the nowadays stressful life style and overwhelming deadlines and demans, one would automatically recognize in a negative situation (cracked pot) the benefit that this 'negative' can bestow upon our life or other characteristics (ruba '9ara nafe3a).
bottom line: see beyond what's appearing and recognize a disguised merit.
and as for my flows and what flowers they can offer i need to take a good look in the self-mirror and beyod to find out thanks to the eye-opener story or shall we say mind and heart-opener one.
Thank you dear for sharing such a meaningful story :)
Lovely.
I have a huge crack, but its too personal to say here im afraid :)
Dear Dilli and Milli .. eshlonkokm elyoum ;)
Allah inshallah ekhalilich Mish3al w ebal'3ich feeh. O more acheivements in shallah personally and professionally!
Being "fragile" can also be a good thing especially when you use the same trait to understand others and have more empathy towards them ;)
Hi there CuddleCakes,
Thank you for sptepping by :) I'm glad you liked the stoty!
You are absolutely right. It's similar to seeing the cup half full. We can always find some good use of out shortcoming!
Love your "photo" :)
DR Love,
Great to see you again :)
It's easy to know our cracks (most of the times). The trick is finding (if possible) the positive aspect of these cracks ;)
oh, yes the crack i havein mind is very useful :) ill like this crack most the time actually.
Ola bella Ummel3yal :*
Actually, ma3indi salfa just missing you wallah :*
Love,
Geish@
Hi Geish@, Miss you Tooo Wallah .. Yallah get your paper done, get a nice break and come back full force ;)
Commentator, 7ayak Allah dear :) Nawart el post!
I think we can all know our own shorcomings if we take an objective look at ourselves. It's what is good about them that we learn from our friends .. I think :)
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