The glass is just double sized!

Parents of Jack and Jill were working at an apple farm as fruit pickers. In the harvesting season, one evening they returned with two baskets full of apples for their kids. Each basket had twenty good quality apples in it. Jack and Jill were delighted and decided to share the apples with their classmates.

Next day, Jack took his fruit box to school to share apples with his friends. He started with choosing the smallest one and gave it to first friend. After that, Jack picked another smallest one from the remaining 19 apples. He continued picking the smallest apple for his friends from the remaining lot and finally, as expected, he left with the biggest apple for self. Out of 20 selecting opportunities, Jack preferred the smallest 19 times; finally had the biggest apple left. 

Similarly, Jill took her basket to school to share apples with her friends. She picked the biggest one for herself. Now for her first friend, she picked the biggest one from the lot. For each next friend, she continued preferring the biggest apple from the remaining lot. Only the last smaller apple was given to the last friend. Out of 20 selecting opportunities, Jill chose the biggest on 19 instances. 

If we observe, apples in both the baskets were of good quality and almost similar sizes. Jack chose 19 smallest apples and Jill picked 19 biggest apples from each basket. How did that happen? Can you please help me to decide who is looking at half empty glass instead of half full? Who between Jack and Jill is optimistic? 

I think Jack’s thought process is pessimistic. Each of his friends felt that they are receiving the smallest apple, they saw him finding smallest from the lot. Jill thought more optimistically, each of her friends was happy to see that they are getting the biggest apple from the lot.

How many of you agree with my view point? If you also agree with me, then I was able to imprint you ;) 

Even though Jack’s friends felt they were getting the smallest apple, still the apple was bigger than the previous friend. Jack could see more smiling faces than Jill as he ensured that each friend acquired bigger apple than previous one. And after spreading so many smiles, he deserved the biggest apple from the pack!

On the other hand Jill chose different course and initially picked the biggest one for her. Later on, for each receiving friend, she yielded smaller apple than the previous friend. What's your view now? What if the previous person sees the apple for the next person?

I personally think Jack and Jill just had different view points, to the similar scenario. Ultimate goal for both is to share apples among friends!!

***

The world is full of diversity. It is really great to have different views and perspectives. That’s the only reason why life is more enjoyable. Imagine a scenario where everyone likes mangoes, and nobody wants to eat pineapples. Life is all black and white with no varieties to choose from. Many times, I see a car in odd colors and think who would buy such creepy car, and to my surprise someone is liking it, enjoying!

Perspectives are viewpoints that capture the truth as perceived by the spectator. Any single perspective is likely to be limited, partial, biased and perhaps even distorted picture of any situation. Sometimes perspectives are reconcilable and sometimes they are not.  Two persons may continue to disagree about the correctness of a given situation. 

At times we think few people do not understand the simplest thing. They are unable to see the obvious facts. Whenever we see someone with different perspective, have patience! We should try to put ourselves into their shoes. It is possible that the person is looking from different angle, may be the wider one.

Before putting down the contrary view, we should at least wait and check the perspective the person is referring to. Be open to discussion, avoid stubbornness. At the end of healthy discussions, we will have more matured view towards the issue. We may still go ahead with our original view, but now we have more trust on the chosen path; more facts to support the decision. Healthy discussions will help us to gain more trust and respect within people around us. 

If we start respecting other people’s view, life would be much easier. It may help us to perceive correct or probably full picture of the reality. Ignorance and arrogance guarantees difficult life. Respect to different views is the key to peaceful coexistence. Polarization is dangerous for any society and it leads to extinct.

If people would have ignored Newton’s perspective to falling apple, we would have never observed the gravity!

Looking forward to hear your viewpoints :)