Take,
for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo despite
the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The
boy began lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well, so
he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had
taught him only one move.
"Sensei,"
the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This
is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to
know," the Sensei replied.
Not
quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several
months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising
himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be
more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged;
the boy deftly used his one move to win the match.
Still
amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This
time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the
boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the
referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Sensei
intervened.
"No,"
the Sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon
after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: He dropped his
guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match
and the tournament. He was the champion.
On
the way home, the boy and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match.
Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
"Sensei,
how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
"You
won for two reasons," the Sensei answered. "First, you've almost
mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only
known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The
moral of this story: The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest
strength.
Turning your biggest weakness into your biggest strength: Office
Boy, an Uplifting Story
A
jobless man applied for the position of 'office boy' at a very big firm.
The
HR manager interviewed him, then a test: clean the floor. "You are
hired" he said, give me your email address, and I will send you the
application to fill, as well as when you will start. The man replied "I
don't have a computer, neither an email".
I
am sorry, said the HR manager, if you don't have an email that means you do not
exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job. The man left with no hope at
all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 US in his pocket.
He
then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10 KG Tomato crate. He then
sold the Tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded
to double his capital. He repeated the operation 3 times, and returned home
with $60 US. The man realized that he can survive by this way, and started to
go everyday earlier, and return late. Thus, his money doubles or triples every
day. Shortly later, he bought a cart, then a truck, and then he had his own
fleet of delivery vehicles.
5
years later, the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US. He started
to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance.
He
called an insurance broker, and chooses a protection plan. When the
conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied: 'I
don't have an email'. The broker replied curiously, you don't have an email,
and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Do you imagine what you could have
been if you had an email?
The
man thought for a while, and replied: an office boy!
The moral of this story:
1:
Internet is not the solution to your life.
2:
If you don't have internet and you work hard you can be a millionaire.
3:
This man's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
Turning a flaw into a feature: The Cracked Pot, an Uplifting Story
Once
upon a time there was a water-bearer in India who had two large pots, each 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 pot 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 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."
The
moral of this story: 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
warding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the
good in them.
Uplifting Stories: Importance of understanding each other: I want
to buy a Puppy
A
farmer had some puppies, he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the
pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was
driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked
down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Uncle,"
he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well,"
said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these
puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."
The
boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he
pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got
thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure,"
said the farmer.
And
with that he let out a whistle, "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from
the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced
with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed
something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly
another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it
slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward
the others, doing its best to catch up.
"I
want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The
farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that
puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs
would."
With
that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling
up one leg of his trousers.
In
doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching
itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said,
"You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who
understands."
The
world is full of people who need someone who understands.
The moral of this story:
Everyone of us have our own shortage and weaknesses. But if we are willing to,
we can make advantage of our own shortage and weaknesses instead of opposing
them. In the eyes of the wise, nothing is wasted. Do not be blocked by your
disadvantages. Know your weaknesses and you too can be the water for the better
life of all. Know, that in our weaknesses, we find our strengths
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