The Black Spot

A professor asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. He handed out the question paper with the text facing down as usual. He then asked the students to turn the page over and begin. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions… just a black dot in the centre of the page. The professor, seeing the confused expression on their faces, said: “I want you to write what you see.”

At the end of the test, the professor read out their answers. All, without exception, had described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet, etc.

The professor explained: “I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot — and the same happens in our lives. Our lives are a gift from God, and we always have reasons to celebrate — our friends and family, good health, the job that provides our livelihood… But, we insist on focusing only on the dark spots — lack of money, a complicated relationship, disappointment with a friend, etc. The dark spots are very small compared to everything else we have in our lives.”

Stop focusing on the black spots in your life. Enjoy each of your blessings, each moment that life gives you.