Story 1- The Weight of the Glass

Once upon a time a psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress
management principles to an auditorium filled with students. As she raised a glass of water,
everyone expected theyd be asked the typical glass half empty or glass half full question.
Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, How heavy is this glass of water Im
holding?
Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to a couple pounds.
She replied, From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesnt matter. It all
depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, its fairly light. If I hold it for
an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little. If I hold it for a day straight, my
arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the
glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesnt change, but the longer I hold
it, the heavier it feels to me.
As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, Your stresses and worries in life
are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens.
Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little. Think about them all day long,
and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed incapable of doing anything else until
you drop them.
The moral: Its important to remember to let go of your stresses and worries. No matter
what happens during the day, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down.
Dont carry them through the night and into the next day with you. If you still feel the weight
of yesterdays stress, its a strong sign that its time to put the glass down.
Story 2- The last cab ride

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for
a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.

Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then
drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their
only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.
This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I
walked to the door and knocked.

Just a minute, answered a frail, elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A
small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat
with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon
suitcase.

The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with
sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the
corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

Would you carry my bag out to the car? she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then
returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She
kept thanking me for my kindness. Its nothing, I told her. I just try to treat my passengers
the way I would want my mother treated.

Oh, youre such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address,
then asked, Could you drive through downtown?

Its not the shortest way, I answered quickly.

Oh, I dont mind, she said. Im in no hurry. Im on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear view mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

I dont have any family left, she continued. The doctor says I dont have very long.

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. What route would you like me to take? I
asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had
once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her
husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture
warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
She suddenly said, Im tired. Lets go now.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.

It was a low building, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to
the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the
door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

How much do I owe you? she asked, reaching into her purse.

Nothing, I said.

You have to make a living, she answered.

There are other passengers.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

You gave an old woman a little moment of joy, she said. Thank you.

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was
the sound of the closing of a life.

I didnt pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought. Sometimes,
were conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments
often catch us unawarebeautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Story 3 - Believe in Yourself

There may be days when you get up in the morning and things arent the way you had hoped
they would be.

Thats when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people
disappoint you and let you down.

But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and
opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.

There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept
them.

Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times,
but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.
So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.

Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are
meant to come true for you.

Poem 4- homme de coleur / coloured men

When I born, I black.

When I grow up, I black.
When I go in sun, I black.
When I scared, I black.
When I sick, I black.
And when I die, I still black.

And you white people.

When you born, you pink.
When you grow up, you white.
When you go in sun, you red.
When you cold, you blue.
When you scared, you yellow.
When you sick, you green
And when you die, you grey

And you calling me colored??

Story 5 Box of Kisses

Some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping
paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put
under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, This is
for you, Daddy. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again
when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, Dont you know that when you give someone a present, theres supposed to
be something inside it?

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I
blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy.

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her
forgiveness.
It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was
discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who
had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with
unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more
precious possession anyone could hold.