Have you ever noticed that two people can experience the exact same situation but have completely different reactions to it?
In this week's parsha, the Jewish people arrive at Marah after leaving Egypt. They are thirsty, but when they finally find water, they discover that it is too bitter to drink. They complain to Moshe, asking what they are supposed to drink. But why does the Torah emphasize that the waters were bitter?
The Kotzker Rebbe gives a surprising explanation. He says that perhaps the verse isn't only describing the water—it is describing the people. They were bitter, and because they were bitter, they saw the water as bitter too.
This teaches us that the way we feel can affect the way we see everything around us. When we're unhappy, we can find something wrong with everything. But when we're content, we are much more likely to appreciate what we have.
Instead of constantly looking for what's wrong, we should work on changing what's inside us. Sometimes, changing our perspective can change the entire world we see.