A little motivational something
My mom sent me this in an email when all my stuff started coming up in March. I found it helpful.
Carrots, Eggs & 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 bean?
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 around 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?
- anabihibik's blog
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Comments
I am Egg trying to become Coffee.
I've heard this before and it touched me then as it has now. I think through the different phases of step-parenting I have changed between the egg and carrot. One day I realized that I had become a different person because of the circumstances. I had been beaten down and accused so many times by BM and SKids that I HAD changed. I did not like the person that I was becoming. I went and apologized to Skids for any inappropriate behavior, if I was harsh or had misspoke, etc. They were so open and accepting of my apology and things were great for a minute. We tried the clean slate. Problem was the BM's influence still got in the way. I have since drawn my line in the sand and I am unwavering. I give unconditional love and it is up to them if they are open to receiving it. Most importantly, I DON'T allow them to dictate WHO I am anymore. I had begun to feel that I had lost a piece of me in all of the fighting. So here I stand 7 1/2 years in (5 of those years custodial) as an egg, striving to be coffee.
I love you guys and the positive aspect you bring to being a SM. We aren't evil, just fed up.
My new StepMother's Motto:
When life gives you lemons... Make a damn good Margarita.
Thanks for sharing!
Me? I'm definitely a coffee bean!
♥ ANNE 8102 ♥
I'm an egg
and I see that through this. As people have hurt me I have become hard. I used to be a soft, loving, affectionate soul and am now harder and tougher than I should be with the people I love. You could look at this as age and life thing too...From now I will aspire to be a coffee bean!!
Thanks for the thoughts..
Catch xx
*Mean People Suck*
First 2 years- carrot, yep I
First 2 years- carrot, yep I went to moosh with every boiled bubble, then I tried for coffee for a few years but then I was sick of trying to make it alright when it wasn't yet and I couldn't convince myself I was that strong soooooo I am egg hear me crack!!!!
Funny most women on this site I would think were coffee most days that liked the company of egg occassionally!!!
There is no reason where logic does not exist
I am becoming one with the BEAN
LOVE coffee, decaf though.
I think I try to change the water all the time. Of course our water is smelly horrible well water that we have to filter to drink, but can't afford a decent over all house filter so that we don't smell EGGS when we are showering.
Wouldn't boil a carrot or egg without the kitchen sink filter!
My niece sent me this one, but I didn't read it. Thanks for sharing!
"Om Tare Tutare Ture Mama Ayurpunye Jnana Putin Kuru Svaha"
~Sita Tara Mantra
You know Steve
You are a man of many words aren't you? You are the only person on ST that can answer a whole post in the subject line!! LOL
Maybe it's just me, I could talk under water with a mouth fulla marbles!!
Catch xx
*Mean People Suck*
Steve is the real ST Buddha (there I did it for once myself!)
"Om Tare Tutare Ture Mama Ayurpunye Jnana Putin Kuru Svaha"
~Sita Tara Mantra
Used to be.....
a carrot until I got shit on too many times...LOL. Then I became an egg, however I am trying to become coffee. It seems like a much better way to be. If only I can chance the egg away I would have no choice but to be coffee all the time cause there ain't no turning back to become no carrot again!
Call me Jo!
I am coffee. A full cup 'o Jo! Forgot I was for a while, but I'm back baby!
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"All power is from within therefore under our control." - Robert Collier