Let me tell you a story…
It was a beautiful spring day where the sun was shining but it wasn’t too hot to do a good days work. The farmer began to plow the field bright and early in the morning. He was enjoying the expansive beauty of his land and was overjoyed at the rich soil he was digging up. By midday he saw a figure in the distance walking on the road along the field.
The traveler was soon upon him. An older man with hat and traveling bag. He had a face full of wrinkles that suggested he worked outside. He greeted the farmer politely but without a smile.
“Hello,” said the traveler. “I am not from around these parts. The signs says there’s a town up yonder over the hill”
“Ey” Says the farmer.
“Are the people in the town a nice sort?” he asked without preamble. “Hmmm,” the farmer thinks about it. “What were the people like where you came from?”
“Oh, they were the worst sort of folk; mean and greedy and full of gossip.”
How you see it
“I’m afraid, the folk in yonder town are the same sort, mean and greedy and full of gossip.” The farmer answered.
“‘Tis a shame then.” And the traveler tip his hat and went on his way.
The farmer continued the plowing and not just two hours later another traveler pass along his field.
“How are you, good sir?” The traveler bowed respectfully to the farmer from the road.
The farmer nodded a hello.
The traveler came over to the farmer and asked.
“I’ve been traveling far and wide to look for a town to set up a bakery. And I was wondering if you could tell me, what say you of the town just over the hill? How do you find the people there?”
“Hmmm,” the farmer said. “What were the people like were you come from?”
“Oh, the people there were the best sort of folk. Very generous, friendly, and kind. The best you’ll ever meet. I wouldn’t have left but they already had a bakery.”
The farmer smiled. “The people in the town up yonder over the hill are the best sort of folk, too. You find them generous, friendly and kind as well.”
“Thank you,” said the traveler. “A free loaf of bread will be waiting for you, once I’m set up.”
He continued on his way, whistling all the while.
Is how you see it
If you change the way you think see the world, you can change the way you experience the world.
Let me ask you, what story do you see from?
Hi Jodi,
That was indeed a lovely story 🙂
Yes, if you change the way you see the world, you can change the way you experience the world, and there is this very famous quote that says the same – “If you change the way you look at things, you will change the things you see.” ~ Wyne Dyer – fits in apt here.
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
Thanks Harleena,
The Dyer quotation works well here as he is saying the same thing I am. It is good news isn’t it? That we can change the world by changing our minds. Someone told me this week that, “You are only as young as your next mind change.” I love it!
Jodi
Ah, this made me think! How we view the world, what our expectations of it are–it all affects the way we live. Thank you for reminding me of this today–I needed it! 🙂
Tina Barbour recently posted..Interview with Grace Peterson, author of “Reaching: A Memoir”
Thanks Tina! I am glad to help! <3
Absolutely! Expect negative, get negative. Expect positive, get positive.
You got it, Eva! Welcome to my blog! Thanks for coming! Hope to see you around these parts s’more!
Hi Jodi.
There are many variants of this story but all with the same theme.
People are what they are and perhaps if people just accepted that then perhaps the world would be a better place, who knows?
I have worked with a few people over the years who could make “Good Morning” sound like a declaration of war! But once you got to know them you could not have known more friendly helpful people.
These days some people tend to treat people they meet as they think the are, rather than who they actually are.
Good post Jodi, a tale that’s well worth reading from time to time.
Robert recently posted..We was brung up proper
Thanks, Robert,
It’s like the quotation from the movie The Perks Of Being A Wallflower that I recently watched that says ‘We accept the love we think we deserve.” It sounds like what I say often, “People are mean to us because they don’t like us, they are mean to us because we don’t like ourselves.” Change our beliefs, we change everything.
xo
Jodi
It’s amazing what belief can do. It can stop wars, it can start wars. It can divide communities, it can unite communities. It can incite hate, it can conquer hate. It can cloud judgement, it can clear judgement.
Tricky stuff this belief.
Ooooh! I am going to put this on facebook, very wize, Sir!
The bill is in the post!!!!
Robert recently posted..We was brung up proper
Perception is everything, isn’t it?
Kelly Hashway recently posted..Immortals by Ednah Walters
Yes it is!
A lovely story, Jodi – and the message is reminiscent of a post I’ve just read on Dana Gore’s blog. When we get depressed and anxious about life, the problem’s invariably within. We just need to change our point of view – though that’s often easier said than done.
Sue
Susan Neal recently posted..Is Your Blog Post Long Enough?
Too true, but when we say it’s hard we make it hard… Same thing applies!
Love this! We do, indeed, find what we are looking for.
Not that there aren’t dangerous or selfish people in the world. But call me Pollyanna, I do believe that MOST people are kind and well-meaning, and I have been blessed to know quite a few.
Beverly Diehl recently posted..Who Are You? Who Who, Who Who?
We can choose to bring out bad in people or the good in people. Not that it’s our fault if we are abused, but once we learn how we will learn how to open ourselves up to love yet set limits on those who are not choosing to accept it, (Loving doesn’t mean be available to abuse.) then life will get much easier!
You nailed it, Jodi. I am a big believer in point of view. Like Bev, I truly believe people are good, but there are a few here and there that have their own definition of what it means to be good. Like that song, ‘One Bad Apple…” same with us peeps.
brenda recently posted..A Woman’s Dance
One bad apple can ruin the bunch, yes, because we all reflect off each other, but maybe that means one good apple can inspire the bunch!
Hello Jodi, It’s really nice to visit & finding such a great post ! I must say it’s interesting & lovely story. I feel real peace to hear it. Many Many thanks to you Jodi.
Thank you kindly, Mansi!
Hi Jodi, It’s really Great Post When we get depressed and anxious about life, the problem’s invariably within.
So we can focus here. When I was down and out, this is what I did… http://thespiritthatmovesme.blogspot.ca/2013/08/how-do-we-heal.html