Playing The Hand You're Dealt - Part 2

 

Part 2 …Game of cards.. Playing The Hand You're Dealt

 A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee. ( author unknown )

 

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 a boil. In the first - she placed carrots. In the second - she placed eggs. And in the last one 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 do 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, it's inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they changed the water.

 

“Which are you?’ she asked the 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?

The carrot seems strong, but with pain and adversity it wilts and becomes soft and loses its strength.

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after death, family problems, 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 flavour.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

 

--- --- ---

 

Remember - The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything: they just make the most of everything that comes their way (They play the cards they are dealt to the best of their ability)

 

 

- So the next time someone asks you ‘How you are going’,... just say …

 

....’I’m making coffee today.’

Until next time - Have a great day and make every meeting special.

 

Fletch is an entrepreneur who has worked and trained in business and customer service for more than 30 years. He enjoys writing and delivering training on business relations and good customer service.

He always enjoys a good cup of coffee with friends.