An interesting way to look at life and the stress that goes with it! >> >> Carrot, Egg, and Coffee >> >> >> >> A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup >> of coffee the same way again. >> >> A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how >> things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to >> make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and >> struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. >> >> Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water >> and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the >> first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the >> last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, >> without saying a word. >> >> In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the >> carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and >> placed them in a bowl. >> >> Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. >> >> Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." >> >> "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. >> >> Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She >> did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter >> to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed >>> the hard boiled egg. >> >> Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter >>> smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What >> does it mean, mother?" >> >> Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same >> adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in >>> strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the >> boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. >> Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after >> sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The >> ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the >> boiling water, they had changed the water. >> >> "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on >> your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee >>ean? >> >> Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with >>> pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? >> >> Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the >> heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a >> financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and >> stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and >> tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? >> >> Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, >>> the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, >> it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when >> things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation >>round you. >> When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you >> elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are >> you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? >> >> May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make >>> you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make >> you happy. >> >> The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; >> they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The >> brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't >> go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and >>heartaches. >> >> When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was >>smilling. >> >> >> Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and >> everyone around you is crying. >> >> You might want to send this message to those people who mean something >>> to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or >>> another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those >>> who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; >> >> To those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so >> meaningful in your life. >> >> If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to >> brighten someone's day with this message! >> >> It's easier to build a child than repair an adult. >> >> This is so true - may we all be COFFEE.
