Hot Chocolate

group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. 
 

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.   

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, 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. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate... In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.  
 

What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, 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 hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.  
 

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.  
 

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Peace

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace

What do teachers make ?

Dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. 
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
 
To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest. What do you make?"
 
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)
 
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
 
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
 
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
 
You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)
 
I make kids wonder.
 
I make them question.
 
I make them apologize and mean it.
 
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.
 
I make them read, read, read.
 
I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
 
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
 
I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the  Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
 
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.   (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
 
Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  What do you make Mr. CEO?
 
His jaw dropped, he went silent.
 
THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER, EVERY CEO, EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW.
 
Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, coaches and your spiritual leaders/teachers.
 
A profound answer!!!