Did you get that diploma?

It’s like the old story of the stonemasons. A stranger walks by a construction site and comes upon a stonemason. When the stranger asks what the mason is doing, he replies, “I’m laying stones.”

The next day, the stranger strolls by again and sees a different mason at work. When the stranger asks him what he’s doing, the mason replies, “I’m building a wall.”

One the third day, the man sees yet another mason at work and again asks what the mason is doing. With joy in his voice, the worker replies, “I’m building a cathedral.”

It’s just a story, but there’s more than one lesson in it.

First, each mason accomplished something. Day by day, stone by stone, the project progressed because of their efforts.

Second, it illustrates the power of perspective:

• for the first mason, the assignment was a menial task,
• for the second, it was a manageable project,
• for the third, it was a marvelous goal.

I believe WHY we do something is an important component of the pleasure we get from doing it. And if we choose to reframe what we are doing by having a BETTER why, I think we will achieve a more meaningful experience.

Rather than just ‘laying stones,’ we can see ourselves as part of a bigger picture.

• We can do things to make life easier for ourselves and/or for others.
• We can see that we are creating something of value.
• We can do almost anything and do it well if (and when) we realize that “we are here and alive and able to do it.”

Our map is not the territory and our diploma is not our life. But we have the choice of what meaning and what use we make of both!