Hot chocolate analogy

I got this email from my father-in-law, Jean-Marie. It's very true. Enjoy!

> > The Hot Chocolate Story !
> >
> > A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at
> > a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now
> > retired.
> >
> > During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about
> > stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate,
> > the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of
> > hot chocolate and an assortment of cups-porcelain, glass, crystal,
> > some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to
> > help themselves to the hot chocolate.
> >
> > When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said:
> >
> > 'Notice that all the nice looking; expensive cups were taken, leaving
> > behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want
> > only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and
> > stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality
> > of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some
> > cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot
> > chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups...
> >
> > And then you began eyeing each others cups.
> >
> > Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and
> > position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and
> > contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the
> > quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the
> > cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have.
> >
> > The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
> > They just make the best of everything that they have.
> >
> > Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Thank the
> > Lord for your blessings in 2008.
> >
> > And enjoy your hot chocolate!