There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and
content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was
happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds
and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, “If you had a
diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a
diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country.”
And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn’t sleep. He was unhappy and
he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent
because he was unhappy. The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm,
took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over
Africa and couldn’t find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn’t find
any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially
broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River
and committed suicide. Back home, the person who had bought his farm was
watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream,
the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He
thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put
it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone
sparkling. He asked, “Is Hafiz back?” The new owner said, “No,
why do you ask?” The wise man said, “Because that is a diamond. I
recognize one when I see one.” The man said, no, that’s just a stone I
picked up from the stream. Come, I’ll show you. There are many more.” They
went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the
stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres
and acres of diamonds. But Mr. Hafiz was dead and gone. What a life!
content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was
happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds
and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, “If you had a
diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a
diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country.”
And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn’t sleep. He was unhappy and
he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent
because he was unhappy. The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm,
took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over
Africa and couldn’t find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn’t find
any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially
broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River
and committed suicide. Back home, the person who had bought his farm was
watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream,
the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He
thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put
it in the living room. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone
sparkling. He asked, “Is Hafiz back?” The new owner said, “No,
why do you ask?” The wise man said, “Because that is a diamond. I
recognize one when I see one.” The man said, no, that’s just a stone I
picked up from the stream. Come, I’ll show you. There are many more.” They
went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the
stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres
and acres of diamonds. But Mr. Hafiz was dead and gone. What a life!
What is the moral of this story? There are
five morals:
five morals:
1. When our attitude is right, we realize that
we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under
our feet. We don’t have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it and maximise it.
we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under
our feet. We don’t have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it and maximise it.
2. The grass on the other side always looks
greener.
greener.
3. While we are eyeing the grass on the other side,
there are others who are eyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to
trade places with us.
there are others who are eyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to
trade places with us.
4. When people don’t know how to recognize
opportunity, they complain of noise when it knocks.
opportunity, they complain of noise when it knocks.
5. The same opportunity never knocks twice.
The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one except on rare cases.
The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one except on rare cases.
Anonymous
