Attitudes on Moving to a New City (crime, homes)

[Dawne]

I was reminded recently of a story:

A wise old man was sitting along the entrance road into a city. A stranger was passing by and stopped to ask the wise old man what type of city he was entering, as he intended to make it his home.

The wise old man thought for a moment and said, "What was the city like that you came from?" The man answered, "It was full of government corruption and crime. The people were rude and nasty. The children and youth were disrespectful and people didn't keep their homes and properties neat and clean."

The wise old man thought again and said, "The city you are moving to is the same way." The man went on his way, greatly saddened.

A second stranger passed by and stopped to ask the wise old man what type of city he was entering, as he intended to make it his home.

The wise old man thought for a moment and said, "What was the city like that you came from?" The man answered, "The government workers were wonderful and crime was low. The people were friendly and helpful. The children and youth were respectful and people kept their homes and properties neat and clean."

The wise old man thought again and said, "The city you are moving to is the same way." The man went on his way, rejoicing greatly.

So - sometimes it's all in how you look at things.