A traveler came upon an old farmer hoeing in his field beside the road. He approached the farmer:
“What sort of people live in the next town?” asked the stranger.
“What were the people like where you’ve come from?” replied the farmer, answering the
question with another question.
“They were a bad lot. Troublemakers and lazy too. The most selfish people in the world,
and not a one of them can be trusted. I’m happy I left that place.”
“Is that so?” replied the old farmer. “Well, I’m afraid that you’ll find the same sort of
people in the next town.
Disappointed, the traveler continued on his way, and the farmer returned to his work.
Some time later another stranger, coming from the same direction, approached the
farmer.
“What sort of people live in the next town?” he asked.
“What were the people like where you’ve come from?” replied the farmer once again.
“They were the best people in the world. Hard working, honest, and friendly. I’m sorry to
be leaving them.”
“Fear not,” said the farmer. “You’ll find the same sort in the next town.”
As we go through life, it’s easy to develop certain way of thinking about things. And it’s
really important to try to break free of those as often as we can and clear our minds of
the conventional wisdom, which can hold us back.