What We Bring to the Table

In Mark Twain's story, the animals discover an artist painting in the backyard.  However, only the cat actually finds the painting.  The other animals manage to find the mirror the artist has used to paint his self-portrait.

The cat describes a beautiful painting.  The other animals describe beautiful or handsome editions of their own kind.

"You can find in a thing

 Whatever you bring

 When you stand between it

 And the mirror of your own

 Imagination."

We, though, can apply this as a parable of negotiating.

Each of us is different.

Each of us brings something valuable.

Do we bring our valuable difference to the table to share, or do we plop it on the table and shove everyone else's difference off?