Who moved my cheese..?
May 11, 2009 by ruha
Lets begin with this story; The Story of the Cheese.
It seems there is this little maze. I’m guessing this maze is supposed to symbolize life. Anyway, in this maze are two mice with simple brains and simple needs. Also in this maze are two humans (known as littlepeople) with complex brains and more needs.
Each morning the mice and the littlepeople head out of the maze to look for “Cheese”. According to ol’ Doc Johnson (the author, Spencer Johnson, M.D.), “Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life-whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind.” (Book jacket)
All four beings find Cheese in the same place each day. Gradually, one of the mice senses change. The Cheese isn’t the same. It is of lower quality and there is less. The littlepeople sense nothing. They just keep getting up each morning and expect to find the Cheese in the same place it always is. After all, they are entitled to this Cheese, aren’t they?
Whelp, one day the Cheese is gone. The mice anticipated change, so they go out in the maze in search of new Cheese. The littlepeople don’t know what to do. Their Cheese is gone! Somebody stole the Cheese! Instead of adapting to the change, the littlepeople just sit there and feel sorry for themselves. Meanwhile, the mice who adapted to the change are livin’ large with their newly found Cheese.
Eventually, one of the littlepeople, named “Haw,” ventures out into the maze in search of new Cheese, while the other, named “Hem,” sits home in denial. Get it? Hem and Haw. Oh that Doc Johnson is so clever!
Must I finish the story? Oh, ok. Eventually, everyone in the maze reacts to the Cheese change one way or another. There are those who adapt quickly to the change, and those who only hurt themselves by living in denial and refusing to change. Do they all live happily ever after with a never-ending supply of Cheese? Do I care?
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