Carrots, eggs, and coffee

A young woman went to her mother and complained that life was hard for her. She was tired of fighting and struggling. When one problem was solved, a new one appeared. She was ready to give up and quit trying.

Her mother took her to the kitchen where she filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first pot she placed carrots. In the second she placed eggs. And in the last pan she put ground coffee beans.

She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She spooned 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 cup.

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 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?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity—boiling water. And each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, confident and firm. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it wilted and weakened.

The egg had been well composed but delicate. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides solidified.
The ground coffee beans reacted differently, however. After they were in the boiling water, they 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 bean?”

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that is strong, but with adversity I wilt, and lose confidence and strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but hardens with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, do I become hardened and feel dejected? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside I am bitter?

Or am I like the coffee bean that changes its environment by being in it? When the water gets hot, the bean releases its fragrance and flavor.

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?