Time to change your point of view?
[via Iti]
Imagine you’re in an Airport. While you’re waiting for your flight, you notice a bakery counter selling fresh cookies. You buy a box, put them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies. Finally you find a seat next to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box of cookies.
As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely. He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes one of your cookies from the box, 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 one cookie, 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 imagine the words you might use to describe this man to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue 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 in half, and gives half to you. After he’s finished with his half he gets up, and without a word, he leaves.
You think to yourself, “Did this really happen?” You’re left sitting there dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the shop and buy another box of cookies. You then return to your seat and as you begin opening your new box of cookies, you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in your bag is your original box of cookies — still unopened.
Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached into the other man’s bag, and grabbed 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?
Awesome article Adi – damn good – LOL :)) – too good!
It reminded me of the ruchi pickle add where the woman eats something and this man keeps on staring at her – and she thinks that he is staring on her but infact he keeps looking at the family eating the ruchi pickle :))..
Simply Superb!
Actually, this story seems to have been picked out of a similar short story by Jeffrey Archer. But the essence of the story still remains.
On a lighter note: How many cookies are YOU going to have? I mean you ate half of the other guys’ cookies, then you have your own unused cookie box & ofcourse the one u bought just now…. Dont worry, I’m coming over to help you out :)
Nice article adi, man an interesting article, every day.
Keep up :) we are there to read
right on spot adi.. :) good one! keep writing
Arjuna: Thanks! :) I don’t remember the Ruchi ad fully, but yeah remember that there was something to the same effect! :)
Poorna Shashank: Thanks! :)
Sudhu: Come over buddy! :) Lets have lots of cookies. Actually, we are planning for a blogger’s meet shortly at Chennai. Will let you know the details as soon as we finalise on them. Hope to see you there!
Aatma: Thanks man! :) Keep reading!
Bhumi: I didn’t write it. Received it as an email forward from one of my friends [Iti]. Thought it was very good and posted it onto the blog. Glad you liked it yar! :) Thanks! :)
Good story. Happens many times in many ways.
Swahilyaji:
Thanks!
Yeah. Happens many times!