우물가의 두 양동이

The Old Well

Two buckets hung at an old stone well. They swung side by side on one long rope. For many years they had shared this same quiet well. Every morning, a farmer let them down. They dipped deep into the cool, dark water. Then the rope pulled them back up. Each bucket came up filled to the middle.

Half Empty

The first bucket looked down and groaned. "I am only half full again," it said. "Half of my water spilled away." "Why must I always feel so empty?" It grumbled at the sun and the wind. Its sides felt heavy, and its heart felt gray. All day long it wished for more, and it forgot the good water it still held.

Half Full

The second bucket looked down and smiled. "I am still half full!" it sang. "I carry cool water to thirsty plants." "What a lucky little bucket I am!" It hummed a happy tune on each trip. It thought each drop was a small gift. The birds stopped to listen, and they chirped along with its cheerful song.

The Same Water

Both buckets held the very same water. One felt poor, but the other felt rich. The farmer smiled at the singing bucket. "You both do good work," he said kindly. "Yet only one of you enjoys the day." The way we see our cup can change it.