Inspirational Story » The Cracked Pot

Today is a perfect-10 Sunday. October 10, 2010 or 10/10/10. It was so rare to have a date like this. Some people believe it's a lucky day, but for me it's the best day to re-think of coming back on track - I seem to be losing track of my goals these past few months. However, I realized that goals are good, but not reaching them isn't the end of world. Hence, I just need to learn to be happy without being perfect. 

Speaking of being perfect, when I noticed the perfect 10/10/10 date, I immediately grab my Jurassic laptop to write about some inspirational rants about the problems of being perfect or something related to narcissism but I seem to run out of ideas. I googled some stuff and came across this story about the cracked pot. I noticed that I haven't added any inspirational story in my collection so instead of writing some narcissistic article, I guess sharing this story will get the message I want to share today. 

The Cracked Pot Story

A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and 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 master's house.  The cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. 

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

Why?" asked the bearer.

"What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.

Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." 

Yodz' Notes: 

We all have our own unique flaws - Great! That makes us all a cracked pots. But as the above story said, it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. Imagine if all your friends are perfect - that would be terribly boring. We have just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Hoping everything will be perfect is an insane way to live. There is nothing perfect in this world, and continually trying to attain perfection leads to so many problems. I never quite feel that everything is OK, and I think that stems from my unreal perception of how the world should be

There is a lot of good out there, there is a lot of good in us! We just have to remember to appreciate all the different people in our life.

So, to all the CRACKED POTS in my life - THANK YOU. You have made my life more interesting and exciting. You all know who you are.

Hope you all have a perfect Sunday, cracked pots!

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