Change in Paradigm

Change in Paradigm - Joe Gracia
Imagine you're in London's HeathrowAirport. While you're waiting
for your flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread 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 shortbread 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 kiosk and buy another
box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box
of cookies when 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?

Now, think of this story as it relates to your life. Seeing things from a
new point of view can be very enlightening. Think outside the box. Don't
settle for the status quo. Be open to suggestions. Things may not be what
they seem.