We are in the process of moving and that means sorting and deciding – what goes with us and what is given to the thrift store. My husband was Air Force so we’ve had many moves. One of my favorites places was Izmir Turkey because of the many new things we got to experience.
In Turkey they tell tales of Hodja, the wise fool. In this tale he’s on the road and meets a stranger coming from the other direction. The stranger asks him, “How are the people in the town I’m heading toward?” Hodja asks him,” How were the people in the town you just left?” The stranger says, “Oh they were a mean lot, I couldn’t get along with any of them and had to leave.” Hodja says, “You will find the people in the next town to be the same.”
Hodja continues to walk along the road and meets a second stranger coming from the other direction who also asks him, “How are the people in the town I’m heading toward?” Hodja again asks,” How were the people in the town you just left?” The second stranger answers, “Oh, they were the nicest people, we got along so well I didn’t want to leave.” Hodja says, “You will find the people in the next town to be the same.”
Hodja is right! In all of our moves I’ve never wanted to leave any of the places we’ve lived and I’ve always enjoyed the next place too. I guess you could say the moral of the story is to be the kind of person you’d like to meet.