story

Imagine you're in a Airport.

While you're waiting foryour flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies.You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag and thenyou patiently search for an available seat so you cansit down and enjoy your cookies.Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman. You reachdown into your traveling bag and pull out your box ofshortbread cookies.

As you do so, you notice that the gentleman startswatching you intensely. He stares as you open the boxand his eyes follow your hand as you pick up thecookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then hereaches over and takes one of your cookies from thebox and eats it!

You're more than a little surprised at this. Actually,you're at a loss for words. Not only does he take onecookie, but he alternates with you.For every one cookie you take, he takes one.Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy?Crazy? Greedy? He's got some nerve! Can you imaginethe words you might use to describe this man to yourassociates back at the office?

Meanwhile, you bothcontinue eating the cookies until there's just one left.To your surprise, the man reaches over and takes it.But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it inhalf, and gives half to you.After he's finished with his half he gets up, andwithout a word, he leaves.You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?"You're left sitting
there dumbfounded and stillhungry.

So you go back to the kiosk and buy anotherbox of cookies. You then return to your seat and beginopening your new box of cookies when you glance downinto your traveling bag.Sitting there in your bag is your original box ofcookies -- still unopened.Only then did you realize that when you reached downearlier, you had reached into the other man's bag andgrabbed his box of cookies by mistake.

Now what do you think of the man?

Generous? Tolerant?You've just experienced a profound paradigm shift.

You're seeing things from a new point of view.Is it time to change your point of view?Now, think of this story as it relates to your life.Seeing things from a new point of view can be veryenlightening.Think outside the box. Don't settle for the statusquo. Be open to suggestions. Things may not be whatthey seem.