Chinese Proverb

An elderly Chinese woman had 2 large pots, each being 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 two years this went on with the woman bringing home only 1 and ½ pots of water.

Of course the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections and miserable that it could only do ½ what it had been made to do.

One day after 2 years of what it perceived as bitter failure, it spoke to the woman. “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 is 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 2 years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house or my life.”

When I was in High School, I tried out for the gymnastics team. Being the worst on the squad, I would become despondent and wanted to quit. My coach told me something that helped me realize my position and importance on the team. She said, "Donna, you don't have the high skills that some of the other girls have, but you try hard and put integrity into all the poses you do know. You pull up the bottom scores and help the team win in your own way." I never forgot that gym teacher or what she said. To this day, I try to reach my personal best in all eneavors, but best of all, I never concentrate on what I lack or can't achieve...I only think about what I can.