A Change in Perspective

[Guest guest]

Rainy Day, Sunny Day

A Change In Perspective

 

Long ago, there lived an old woman whose tears never ceased because

her worries were never-ending. She had two daughters. The eldest had

married an umbrella merchant. On days filled with sunshine, the old

woman would glance upward and think, "The weather is too nice! No one

is going to want to buy any umbrellas and the shop may need to be

closed!" Overcome with worry, she would cry and cry. Her younger

daughter had married a noodle vendor and the old woman knew that when

the rains came, the noodles would not dry and there would be no

noodles to sell. On rainy days, the old woman would again be consumed

with worry and her tears would pour. Thus, ever grieving for one of

her daughters, she lived in constant sorrow. Her well-meaning

neighbors, unable to console the old woman, began to call her 'the

crying woman.'

 

One day, she crossed paths with a monk. He had heard of the crying

woman and was very curious as to why she never stopped crying. The old

woman explained the source of her sadness. The monk, who was very

kind, smiled and said, "You won't need to worry any more because I can

show you the way to find happiness."

 

The old woman became very excited and quickly asked the monk to tell

her what to do. He replied that the answer was simple. "You only need

to change your perspective," he said. "On sunny days, think not of

your elder daughter and her umbrellas, but of your younger daughter

finding the warmth to dry her noodles. When the sunlight is brightest,

she will be able to make mountains of noodles and her business will

prosper. When the rains come, think not of your younger daughter and

her noodles, but of the many customers who will come to your elder

daughter in order to buy umbrellas. The more forceful the rain, the

more she will sell."

 

The old woman knew the monk was speaking wisdom and did as he said.

After a time, her tears became smiles, and her smiles grew as the days

progressed. From that day forward, she was known to all as 'the

smiling woman.'

--

Brightest Blessings,

Bela

[Guest guest]

My apologies...I forgot to reference where I received this story from

- http://www.dailyom.com.

 

Brightest of Blessings,

Bela

 

> Rainy Day, Sunny Day

> A Change In Perspective

>

> Long ago, there lived an old woman whose tears never ceased because

> her worries were never-ending. She had two daughters. The eldest had

> married an umbrella merchant. On days filled with sunshine, the old

> woman would glance upward and think, "The weather is too nice! No one

> is going to want to buy any umbrellas and the shop may need to be

> closed!" Overcome with worry, she would cry and cry. Her younger

> daughter had married a noodle vendor and the old woman knew that when

> the rains came, the noodles would not dry and there would be no

> noodles to sell. On rainy days, the old woman would again be consumed

> with worry and her tears would pour. Thus, ever grieving for one of

> her daughters, she lived in constant sorrow. Her well-meaning

> neighbors, unable to console the old woman, began to call her 'the

> crying woman.'

>

> One day, she crossed paths with a monk. He had heard of the crying

> woman and was very curious as to why she never stopped crying. The old

> woman explained the source of her sadness. The monk, who was very

> kind, smiled and said, "You won't need to worry any more because I can

> show you the way to find happiness."

>

> The old woman became very excited and quickly asked the monk to tell

> her what to do. He replied that the answer was simple. "You only need

> to change your perspective," he said. "On sunny days, think not of

> your elder daughter and her umbrellas, but of your younger daughter

> finding the warmth to dry her noodles. When the sunlight is brightest,

> she will be able to make mountains of noodles and her business will

> prosper. When the rains come, think not of your younger daughter and

> her noodles, but of the many customers who will come to your elder

> daughter in order to buy umbrellas. The more forceful the rain, the

> more she will sell."

>

> The old woman knew the monk was speaking wisdom and did as he said.

> After a time, her tears became smiles, and her smiles grew as the days

> progressed. From that day forward, she was known to all as 'the

> smiling woman.'