Stone Soup

Stone Soup by [Madisyn Taylor]( Imagine a world in which we all shared our gifts and bounty with each other, rather than focusing on self preservation. There are many variations on the story of stone soup, but they all involve a traveler coming into a town beset by famine. The inhabitants try to discourage the traveler from staying, fearing he wants them to give him food. They tell him in no uncertain terms that there's no food anywhere to be found. The traveler explains that he doesn't need any food and that, in fact, he was planning to make a soup to share with all of them. The villagers watch suspiciously as he builds a fire and fills a cauldron with water. With great ceremony, he pulls a stone from a bag, dropping the stone into the pot of water. He sniffs the brew extravagantly and exclaims how delicious stone soup is. As the villagers begin to show interest, he mentions how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage in it. A villager brings out a cabbage to share. This episode repeats itself until the soup has cabbage, carrots, onions, and beets--indeed, a substantial soup that feeds everyone in the village. This story addresses the human tendency to hoard in times of deprivation. When resources are scarce, we pull back and put all of our energy into self-preservation. We isolate ourselves and shut out others. As the story of stone soup reveals, in doing so, we often deprive ourselves and everyone else of a feast. This metaphor plays out beyond the realm of food. We hoard ideas, love, and energy, thinking we will be richer if we keep to them to ourselves, when in truth we make the world, and ourselves, poorer whenever we greedily stockpile our reserves. The traveler was able to see that the villagers were holding back, and he had the genius to draw them out and inspire them to give, thus creating a spread that none of them could have created alone. Are you like one of the villagers, holding back? If you come forward and share your gifts, you will inspire others to do the same. The reward is a banquet that can nourish many. [PRINT]( [SAVE]( [DISCUSS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- DailyOM Course Spotlight [Overcoming Fear of Aging]( by Margit Henderson To claim your best future, it's important to break free of the fear of aging. A growing body of research reveals that most of our aging experience is in our control--and can be very easily improved. By debunking aging myths and cultivating an optimistic mindset towards aging, you can move through your fears about the future, and find the confidence and motivation to make life-enhancing choices that will greatly improve your life now and in the future. This inspiring seven lesson course draws on surprising research findings, highlights what you're already doing well to support healthy aging, and identifies the next steps you need to take to achieve your best future. [Learn More]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Top 10 DailyOM Courses 1. [Make Yourself a Money Magnet]( 2. [A Year to Clear What is Holding You Back!]( 3. [Shedding Your Menopausal Middle in 10 Days]( 4. [A Year of Rumi]( 5. [Release Yourself from Family Karma]( 6. [21 Days of Prayer to Change Your Life]( 7. [Speak with Purpose, Not Impulse]( 8. [Chair Yoga for Healing, Strength and Mobility]( 9. [A Year to Get Rich with Purpose]( 10. [From Codependent to Independent]( New Courses • [Heal Your Past, Heal Your Life]( • [A Year to Get Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise]( • [Speak with Purpose, Not Impulse]( > [More Courses]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Home]( | [Inspiration]( | [Courses]( | [Horoscopes]( | [Gift Shop]() [Email Settings]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Help/FAQ]( © 2019 DailyOM - All Rights Reserved No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission. Subscribed as {NAME}[at]gmail.com (1276706) [1]