I came across a great little story by Valerie Cox called “The Cookie Thief” recently and it got me thinking that life is all about opinions.

What is right for one person is not always right for another.

I believe that us all holding different perspectives and viewpoints is good, as it helps us all to reach better and more balanced solutions. This is on the proviso that any discussion about differences of opinion is handled in the right way and each person is given the same opportunity to express their views and feelings on a topic.

In my opinion, diversity of views and ideas is something to be encouraged and time spent developing a greater tolerance and understanding of people who have different opinions to our own is time well spent.

It is impossible for us to be experts in all areas of life. Prior to making a big decision or when goal setting it is helpful to seek the thoughts and input of others and for them to share their knowledge and experience.

We are all human and none of us are perfect. At times it is extremely beneficial to solicit other people’s perspectives and their point of view on challenges and issues, in doing so we may get a fresh insight or better still a “lightbulb” moment.

We learn more from listening than talking, so on occasions it’s helpful to talk less and listen more. After all we have two ears and one mouth for a reason.

None of us are right one hundred per cent of the time.

However, like me, you have probably met or know people who (in their world) are always right! They do not back down, never admit when they make a mistake and are petrified of showing their vulnerability or any sign of weakness. It must be exhausting to maintain that state of being permanently.

I am sure you too have encountered people that would argue that the colour black is in fact white! If you come across people like that in the future and feel yourself getting irritated and frustrated by their attitude remind yourself of “The Cookie Thief” story, smile inside and reduce your stress levels. It made me laugh when I read it and I hope that you enjoy reading it too.

The Cookie Thief

A woman was waiting at an airport one night. With several long hours before her flight, she bought a book and a bag of cookies. She then found a place where she could sit and do her reading.

She was engrossed in her book but noticed that the man beside her was grabbing some cookies “from the bag between.” She tried to ignore the situation because she wanted to avoid making a scene.

The situation continued for some time. As she read and munched her cookies, the man was continuing to eat the cookies, too. She also continued to ignore him but she told herself, “If I wasn’t so nice, I’d blacken his eye!”

Then, finally, there was only one cookie left. The man took the last cookie and broke it in half. With a smile on his face, he offered her half and ate the other. She took the other half and thought, “This guy has some nerve, and he’s also rude. He didn’t even show any gratitude.”

Right there and then, she wanted to say something but her flight was called. She gathered all her belongings and headed for the gate, refusing to look back at the “cookie thief.” She boarded the plane and continued reading her book. In the middle of the flight, she reached for her back pack and “gasped with surprise.” She found her bag of cookies inside it.

“If mine are here,” she said, “then the cookies we were eating were his and he tried to share them with me.” It was too late to apologise. She realized that she was the rude one and not the man she labelled “the cookie thief.”

This week remind yourself that life is all about opinions and perspectives. If you have a difference of opinion with someone, seek to see it from their point of view. As they say, there are always two sides to a coin and every story!

The Cookie Thief was written by Valerie Cox and featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

This week’s quotation:

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” Voltaire

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