The Balloons

I find this very easy to write this Monday morning because I'm going to share someone else's story.  I have no idea who wrote this.  It's one of those things you find on the internet from time to time.  I have a personal reason for wanting to share it though, so I hope you will read on.  And no, it's not because today is my birthday, although it is.

One day a professor gave a balloon to each of her students, who had to inflate it, write their name on it, and throw it in the hallway. The professor then mixed all the balloons and gave the students five minutes to find their own balloon. There was a hectic search, but nobody found their own balloon. 

It was then that the professor told the students to take any balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. In just minutes, everyone had found their own balloon. 

The professor then told them "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is only looking for their own. When we care about other people's happiness, we'll find ours too."

This is a story about sharing and about working together and about caring.  As I said, I didn't come up with the idea, but for me today it had a personal significance.  I hope it has some meaning to you as well.