Once upon a time a
daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she
didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and
struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one
soon followed.
daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she
didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and
struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one
soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took
her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high
fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in
the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.
her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high
fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in
the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.
He then let them sit and
boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and
impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.
boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and
impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.
After twenty minutes he
turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in
a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in
a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
He then ladled the coffee
out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you
see?”
out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you
see?”
“Potatoes, eggs, and
coffee,” she hastily replied.
coffee,” she hastily replied.
“Look closer,” he said,
“and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked
her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled
egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to
her face.
“and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked
her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled
egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to
her face.
“Father, what does this
mean?” she asked.
mean?” she asked.
He then explained that
the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the
boiling water.
the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the
boiling water.
However, each one reacted
differently.
differently.
The potato went in
strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.
strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.
The egg was fragile, with
the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the
boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.
the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the
boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.
However, the ground
coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they
changed the water and created something new.
coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they
changed the water and created something new.
“Which are you,” he asked
his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you
a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “
his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you
a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “
In life, things
happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is
what happens within us.
happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is
what happens within us.
Among these three, which one are you my friend?
Cheer up, you will succeed!
