I think that many of us operate under the false illusion that we can control everything.<\/p>\n
OK, by \u201cmany of us\u201d I mean me\u2026and maybe you if you are honest.<\/p>\n
One of my resolutions for 2010 is to try and embrace the messiness a bit more.<\/p>\n
To be comfortable with the imperfections. To sweat the small stuff a bit less.<\/p>\n
I got the following story in an email from my Mom today.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit corny, but I think it illustrates the beauty of \u201ccracked pots\u201d and other imperfections that are an inevitable part of life (and perhaps even a hidden treasure).<\/p>\n
Here’s how the story goes:<\/p>\n
“An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.<\/p>\n
\nOne of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.<\/p>\n
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.<\/p>\n
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.<\/p>\n
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.<\/p>\n
“I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”<\/p>\n
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?”<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.<\/p>\n
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”<\/p>\n
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.<\/p>\n
You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.”<\/p>\n
I think there is a certain truth in here.<\/p>\n
Perfection and control are often not all they are cracked up to be (pun intended).<\/p>\n
That\u2019s my point of view. What\u2019s your twist?
\nHow do you embrace imperfection in life and in work?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I think that many of us operate under the false illusion that we can control everything. OK, by \u201cmany of us\u201d I mean me\u2026and maybe you if you are honest. One of my resolutions for 2010 is to try and embrace the messiness a bit more. To be comfortable with the imperfections. To sweat the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-inspiration"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t