Turning a Nearly Empty Cup into a Cup Full of AIR (a Life-sustaining neccesity!)

Kids say the darnedest things.  I was observing a room full of  18 second graders during a group lesson on community building.  The students were imagining that there were three people running for mayor of their community.  The first candidate said he was going to build a skate park.  The second candidate said she was going to build an animal shelter.  The third candidate said he was going to build a mall.  The students all voted for the person who would make the best mayor based on what they wanted to add to the community.

The results:

9 students voted for the animal shelter mayor.

7 voted for the mall mayor.

2 voted for the skate park mayor.

During the follow up discussion the question was asked, "How does someone who voted for the skate park feel right now?"

A chubby boy with a blond bowl haircut hesitantly raised his hand.  "I feel kinda sad ...because.... we only got two," he stammered. "But I also feel happy because  we came in third place!"  As he said this his tone shifted from confused about saying the expected answer to overjoyed to be a 'winner'.

We don't always win. Some of us hardly ever do. The best way to not be disappointed by life is to be satisfied with what we have and are given.... then everything else will be just gravy!