I got this as an email and wanted to share, and feel free to open it up to discussion.

* * * * * *
Coffee anyone ?

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got
together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon
turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his
guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a
large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic,
glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -
telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor
said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken
up, 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.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most
cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we
drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you
consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each
other's cup.

Now consider this:

Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are
the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of
cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee
God has provided us.

God brews the coffee, not the cups.......... Enjoy your coffee!



"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make
the best of everything."

Live simply

Love generously

Care deeply

Speak kindly

Leave the rest to God

Just to play devils advocate... I think living in a beautiful environment (which can include surrounding yourself with beautiful objects) can give you a sense of inner peace/tranquility. On the other hand, I love Japanese design, which is very minimalist and based on zen principles (ie that too much "stuff" prevents you from being able to focus).

But yes, I get the point...

PS I should point out... there is no point living somewhere beautiful if you are unable to take the time to appreciate it (because you are constantly working to pay it off/make it better).

I have often said that if I were to win the lottery, and suddenly have a cool hundred million in my bank account...I'd still be the same ghetto fabulous person I am today. I would rather pay off my parent's mortgage's and set up a college trust fund for my kids and niece's/nephew's...I'd still eat macaroni and cheese...yes I'd buy a bigger and prettier house (one that isn't so old and drafty, with bad plumbing like my current home), and I'd sping for my dream car...a Hemi "Cuda...but beyond that, I have lived so long without money or pretty things, that I can't imagine what I would do with it...I'd rather just enjoy my family and friends, rather than worry about someone chipping my paint with a shopping cart.

If I won the lottery, I'd invest a good chunk of it for my old age, dole out some to the more deserving members of my family (and that's a small number), and then go live on an island, put my hair up in dreadlocks...make art and live in obscurity...Oh...and drink coffee...Chock Full O'Nuts, preferrably...

Agree with Ron (above).

But would you grab the pretty cup to drink it with?
See, for me, I don't go for the pretty ones, as I feel they are too breakable...I love the clunky, colorful, whacky designed ones...probably closer to my personality, and usually hold more coffee...which using the above theory, I guess would lead to fitting in more life...the theory is an interesting concept and got me thinking...

So be honest...
What type of mug would you grab??

Honestly not sure! I usually get distracted anyway - and the coffee goes cold - so probably I'm just one of those people who take a sip, then move on looking for something more interesting... hmm!

No Jenn ... that's a rationalization on your part ... you just like coffee and the more the better. :oP

Me? I don't mind some nice accoutrements. In fact, I have read and this influences my opinion and choice somewhat ... that tea ... is in fact better served in real china. Not sure of the why ... just something that stuck with me ... same as using cold water to start out with ... more oxygen in the water, better taste. And don't let the water boil too long.

Now then ... I do agree with you though ... I like a hefty mug where coffee is concerned. Probably has more to do with having hands that can span 10 notes on a keyboard though.

As for how this all relates to life? Interesting ... but, contradictory too. If I am supposed to be less concerned with 'things' ... wouldn't that include not worrying about which cup, mug, piece of china I serve myself some coffee in? *grins mischeviously*

I have a BIG thermal Raiders mug ... and I HATE the Raiders

I even left it on top of the car once when I drove off .. a block later it slid off and cracked (yes, I lost the coffee, and therefore, LIFE itself) ... that was several years ago .. and I still use it ....

AND I HATE THE RAIDERS

I'll hang up and listen to psych-o'jenn's reply ... thank you

LOLOLOL.

Start the car Keith ... and pay attention to the mirrors ... 'objects are closer than they appear' ... that was my own undoing on the "Save a Life Today" thread.

'She' (and she knows who she is) had me before I even got out of the blocks. :o(

ok, first off....way cool of you to post this, Jenn...kudos! next, extra points for it being in a medium near and dear to my heart (and taste buds).
finally, i've often said the people i envy most (actually referring to couples) were the ones who were dirt broke, and somehow still find a way to be happy, and very much in love with one another ( my maternal grandparents were products of the great depression)
having money is nice, but all the tv's, cars etc can't provide true happiness, despite all the ads (and threads:P) that would have you believe otherwise...

ok, i'm done with my soap box..who's next?

Uh ... er ... a rolling stone in time saves nine? *perplexed look* o_O

*scratches head* not sure exactly which part of what i said was perplexing...

Oh oh ... it's happening again ... I am making myself understood with the clarity of mud.

'Twas my usual stab at some levity. That was me on the soapbox spouting words of mixed up wisdom. The perplexed look directed back onto myself in a self-deprecating manner. Oops.

See? Walkabouts are good ... but, you need to get back up to speed. Here ... *hands Rob a Timmies* :o)


Serious this time ... I want to be that old couple holding hands at the age of 80. And I wholeheartedly agree ... less is more in most cases. No pun, nor joke intended.

People who have lots ... are tied to the banks by a financial umbilical cord. Big house, two cars = big mortgage and two monthly payments ... no more.

'K, part one done. Holding the rest in check for now. :o)

The fact that the Raiders have hit a rough patch aside...the Raider Nation is made up of people who love to be seen and heard, the louder and badder, the better...so perhaps Keith you secretly yearn to be in the Black Hole with the rest of the Raider Nation...or maybe I am such a die-hard Raiders fan, that no matter what comes out it will somehow get back to GO RAIDERS!!

I went to Color Me Mine (a pottery place that you paint the stuff and they fire it for you), and made my own coffee mug...it was big and heavy...not delicate in any way...I painted it with thick stripes of bright colors...perhaps the many layers of my life or personality or however a shrink would like to deem it...point is, it isn't pretty in a "Oooh I want that" sort of way...in fact, it is a bit awkward, but bright and fun...which applying the above theory I would have to say is very much my life. My mom on the other hand has an $80 coffee cup...it sits on a counter as decoration, rarely used, and while it is very pretty...much prettier than my handmade, awkward, bright and fun mug, it must be pretty lonely (again applying the above theory)...my mug gets used, and often...I think in life, I'd rather have it be a bit awkward, but bright and fun, than very pretty and delicate, but never used...

My fave coffee cup is my PSYCHO mug. Has the Bates Motel on one side...and PSYCHO on the other.

wow, i'm famous! i need to see about those royalties... :|

I grind my own coffee...don't really trust anyone else to do it. 8~D

Cup? Who's got the time, I just drink it straight from the carafe!! No fuss, no muss!!

Uh ... I go one step further (or 'les's) than Randy.

I just chew on the beans.

However ... unless you want people coming up to you alllll day and doing the finger pointing to the teeth thing ... flossing and brushing are essential.

No, no ... no need to thank me ... hey ... you got something stuck ...

*notices he is standing in front of a mirror*

*turns red*

Uh ... nvm. :o\

I don't like coffee. For the sake of this, mine is hot chocolate.

To be honest, I have favourite mugs to drink from. It's generally a comfort thing. If I don't have my funky chunky doggy mug, or my tall paw-print mug, or my purple tartan mug, I generally won't enjoy it quite as much. But hot chocolate is so important to me that I will drink it from my brother's trainer (or sneaker to you Americans) if I have to.

Part Deux:

I particularly like the summary statements Jenn ... and I would like to think that I emulate them in my actions and words.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

Yeah ... nice.

Cup ? Mug ? Whatevah ... as long as Starbuck's is in it .

I'll drink to that!

That is my favourite phrase lately.

I'll take a cup of Kauai Estate please. It's been sooo long since I have had a cup (a coffee shop up in Duluth used to carry it... hehe).

Hot chocolate (not to gem gems extreme though lol!)

or tea without milk and a slice of lemon still!

XD

iced = snob

anyone? :P

Curt, Hawaiian beans are the best...but then I may be a bit biased... one of these days, I may have to ship some beans from Rob's family's farm...YUM-MY!! Don't worry, I won't ship it via UPS or FedEx...wouldn't want you dying again...but you really SHOULD try it...talk about the good stuff in life!

Tea! It's all about the Tea! (Irish Breakfast by preference… Fortnum & Mason's "Celebration" before they stopped exporting) and for dessert? Almond Sunset… oh yeah baby… *drools*

I agree Jenn... Kauai Estste is what I use to buy all the time when I was living up in the Twin Ports area. Forget Gevalia, I'll take Kauai.. hehe