Pick up the Grains of Rice? or Carry the Rice Bag?

Imagine...

You are from a very poor family who lives in the countryside, away from city life and any local markets. All throughout the past five months, you have meticulously cultivated rice in the fields every day. You go to the next town in order to trade this huge bag of rice that you have so worked so hard to maintain. Bags of rice are traded by the pound in the next town because there are no rice farmers, and you plan on trading the rice in for several new chickens, which will help support the family well.

On the way to the town, you trip over a rock and spill one fifth of your rice. You know that the prime time to sell your rice is right before the market closes, and you only have a couple minutes left to get there. Do you stop to pick up your rice, knowing that every bit of rice helps, and run into town? There is a possibility that you may drop more rice on the way while running as fast as you can to get there before the market closes. Or do you walk swiftly and carefully into the city now in order to make sure you get there in time to sell the remains of your rice bag?

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Sometimes, it's hard to view the big picture. You worked so HARD for every grain of rice, and it pains you to see that you so clumsily dropped some of it. You look back and you do not want to keep going into the city because you know that every grain of rice counts, so you want to maximize your trade. There's a part of you that seeks perfection in every step of life, and you won't settle for anything less.

Take a step back. Look at your fallen rice, and look at your 4/5 full bag. If you pick up the fallen grains, it will take you more time that you'd like, and rice will be filled with impurities that you pick up off the ground. If you don't keep going, the market will close and you won't even get your chickens. Sure, you won't get as many chickens, but at least you know there's a stronger chance you will at least be able to trade for at least two.

If you stop and be picky about the things that don't have that much emphasis, you will lose the opportunity at hand. Stop and take a look at the big picture. See what is more important, the extra pounds of rice or receiving the chickens? Do what you need to get there, even if it means momentary sacrifices. If your goal is getting those chickens and getting them to produce many eggs for you, do what you can NOW to make sure you get them. Don't let minute unhappiness from others or from your stubborn self get in the way of your mating chickens.