domingo, 5 de mayo de 2013

El Ladrón de Galletas… / The Cookie Thief…


Tenemos una historia que contarte…
We have a story to tell...
(Please read this story below the Spanish version)

El Ladrón de Galletas

Hay un bonito poema de Valerie Cox circulando en Internet sobre una mujer que compró unas galletas y un libro en un aeropuerto y se sentó a leer y saborear las galletas a la espera de su avión. Pronto se dio cuenta de que un hombre que estaba sentado a su lado, tomó indiferentemente una galleta de la bolsa.

Aunque sorprendida y furiosa, la mujer permaneció en silencio mientras el hombre, sin la menor seña de vergüenza o de gratitud, en silencio continuaba comiendo las galletas una por una conforme ella lo hacía.

Cuando quedaba solo una galleta, vio con asombro como él la tomó, le sonrió como si estuviera siendo amable, y la partió por la mitad. El se comió una mitad y le dio la otra mitad. Se felicitó a sí misma por mantener la calma, no le dijo nada a ese grosero ladrón de galletas, sorprendida por el descaro de algunas personas.

Más tarde, cuando se estaba acomodando en su asiento en el avión, ella buscó algo en su bolso y descubrió la bolsa de galletas que había comprado, todavía sin abrir. La  moraleja está contenida en la estrofa que cierra el poema:

"Si las mías están aquí," ella gimió con desesperación,
"Entonces, las otras eran de él, y trató de compartir."
Demasiado tarde para disculparse, se dio cuenta afligida,
Que ella fue la maleducada, la ingrata, la ladrona.

Estar seguro no es lo mismo que estar en lo correcto. La certeza sin humildad puede conducirnos a creer que nosotros “somos los únicos que tenemos la razón” y distorsionar nuestra visión y comprensión del mundo y de las personas.

La humildad no exige que cambiemos o dudemos de nuestras convicciones más profundas. Lo que te pide es que tengamos y defendamos nuestras creencias sin descartar la posibilidad de que en cambio otros pueden estar en lo correcto.

Este es Michael Josephson recordándonos que el carácter cuenta.

Michael Josephson

Publicada originalmente en Internet en Insight Of The Day de Bob Proctor

Adaptación al Español:
Graciela Sepúlveda y Andrés Bermea

“El ladrón de galletas” me recuerda lo fácil que es sacar conclusiones sin fundamento. Hacemos todo tipo de suposiciones sobre toda clase de cosas todos los días y, si no tenemos cuidado, esto se nos puede regresar y 'mordernos' en algún lugar bastante desagradable.

Quieres ver esta historia en un video, da “Clic” sobre la pantalla.



Here the English version…

The Cookie Thief

There’s a nice poem by Valerie Cox circulating on the Internet about a woman who bought some cookies and a book at an airport and sat down to read and nibble while waiting for her plane. She soon noticed a man sitting next to her, who casually took a cookie from the bag.

Although shocked and seething, the woman remained silent as the man, without the slightest sign of shame or gratitude, quietly helped himself, matching her cookie for cookie.

When there was one cookie left, she watched in amazement as he picked it up, smiled at her as if he were being gracious, and broke it in half. He ate one half and gave her the other. Congratulating herself for maintaining her cool, she said nothing to this rude cookie thief, astonished at the nerve of some people.

Later, when she was settling into her seat on the plane, she rummaged through her purse and discovered the bag of cookies she’d purchased, still unopened. The moral message is contained in the poem’s closing stanza:

“If mine are here,” she moaned with despair,
“Then the others were his, and he tried to share.”
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

Being sure is not the same as being right. Certainty without humility can lead to self-righteousness that distorts our view and understanding of the world and of people.

Humility doesn’t require us to be equivocal or doubtful about our deepest convictions. What it asks is that we hold and advocate our beliefs without dismissing the possibility that others may be right instead.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

Michael Josephson

Originally published on Insight Of The Dayfrom Bob Proctor

“The Cookie Thief” reminds me of just how easy it is for us to jump to conclusions. We make all kinds of assumptions about all kinds of things every day and, if we’re not careful, these things may well come back and ‘bite’ us somewhere rather unpleasant.

Want to see this story in a video documentary? Click on the screen...


The poem of Valerie Cox:

The Cookie Thief

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see,
That the man beside her, as bold as could be,
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between,
Which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

She munched cookies and watched the clock,
As this gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking “If I wasn’t so nice I’d blacken his eye”.

With each cookie she took, he took one too.
And when only one was left she wondered what he’d do.
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half as he ate the other.
She snatched it from him and thought “Oh brother!
This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude.
Why he didn’t even show any gratitude”.

She had never known when she had been so galled
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate,
Refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat.
Then sought her book which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage she gasped with surprise.
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes.

“If mine are here” she moaned with despair,
“Then the others were his and he tried to share”.
“Too late to apologize” she realized with grief.
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

~ Valerie Cox