The Carrot, Egg And Coffee Bean: Which Are You?

As hard as it may seem, adversity can actually turn to a positive thing. There is a saying that every single thing happens for a reason and whatever does not kill us makes us stronger. ALIJO SYLVESTER writes on overcoming adversity.

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. She said it seemed that, as one problem was getting solved, a new one arises. 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 a boiling point. 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 and fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She equally pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl as well and ladled the coffee out and poured it in a cup. Turning to her daughter, she asked: “Tell me, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it, and after pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her 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, but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. On the other hand, 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 when adversity knocks on your door? How do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?” The mother asked her daughter. Unfortunately adversity is something every single one of us has to go through at some point in our lives. Yes, I repeat, everyone at one time or the other will experience adversity at some point in life, but you can overcome it with the right attitude and hard work. It can hold us back, it can damage our motivation and it can basically feel like we are stuck in a terrible situation with no way out. Adversity is more than just one difficulty or setback; it’s a series of misfortunes that keep you from achieving your goals and finding happiness. This may include social injustice and personal tragedy, like illness or loss. These experiences can lead to hopelessness and or depression. When faced with adversity, think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, I wilt and become soft and lose my strength or the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a break-up, or a financial hardship, my shell look the same, but on the inside I am bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a 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 flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Which are you; a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? If we learn to look at adversity as a lesson instead of letting it drag us down, we can only come out of the experience stronger than before. Merry Christmas valued readers.