Are you a Carrot, an Egg or Coffee Bean?

	A Motivational Smile - Inspirational Words of Wisdom Are you a Carrot, an Egg or Coffee Bean? By Author Unknown      I sure hope that this continues to spread! I have already shared this with my daughter! 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. In the first pot, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and 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 do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft. She then asked her to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to smell and sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she smelled and tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What's the point, 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. 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 trials and adversity knock 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 passive heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, 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 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 flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you become 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? Like the CARROT, the EGG, OR the COFFEE BEAN?

                         I say, “Be the BEAN!”

Detox your Social Circle- Is it Time to CLEANSE???

If you own ONE thing in this world, it is your POWER to CHOOSE. Remember that when you are choosing your friends and who you spend your time with. If you are truly focused on making changes, meeting a goal or chasing your dream - then surround yourself with people that will support you and add to your spirit.

Fitness: Want to get in shape and lose weight? Make the commitment and set your plan of action. If you have a "friend" that constantly wants to meet you out for lunch, or snacks, or drinks--- whatever will throw you off track: THEN THIS PERSON is probably NOT a good friend for you (right now). If you have talked to him/her and said, "I can't eat that" and he/she still does it... or worse yet... gives you the, "OH, it's fine... you can work it off later"-- or "You only live once..." Whatever the line... They are NOT helping you to stay focused. I would LOVE to help you!

Passion/Hobby: If there is something that you LLLove to do, you are good at and/or it brings you joy – THEN DO IT! Do not allow anyone to talk you out of following your passion or your dream. People will try; unhappy people really do enjoy company. If you have a ‘friend’ that calls your crafts SILLY- or constantly asks you, “Do you think you’re going to get rich doing that?” Then again, this is probably not a friend that boosts your inner strength or brightens your spirit. You will find yourself wanting to “prove them wrong” instead of ENJOYING your journey. (What a shame).

I am not suggesting that you cut ties with family & friends, just make smart choices when it comes to the company you keep. In order to be successful (AT ANYTHING) you need to surround yourself with supportive, positive people.

Friends don’t need to share passions or even have the same taste. True friends celebrate each other’s spirit, share joys, they do not judge.

It is healthy to cleanse our systems. Take a good look at your social circle, is it time to CLEANSE? Negative influence can only affect you IF YOU ANSWER that call... or INVITE IT OVER. (Just sayin')

Detox --Negative Nelly, Doubting Donnie, Pessimistic Patty, Cynical Cindy, Gloomy Gary and Puts-Me-Down Petula!!!

My Mom Always Told Me...

   My Mom ALWAYS told me that I was pretty and smart.  I totally believed her!  MY MOM didn't lie! (not that I knew of, LOL)  Her greatest gift, she gave me that dose of self confidence.  I do the same for my Daughter now!  I tell her ALL the time that she is a ROCKSTAR and that only she holds the power to decide who she is.  No one is strong enough to make her feel bad about herself!   She (both good and bad) is not the middle of 2 sisters - therefore she lacks the practice field for battle that is SO VITAL in the survival skills handbag for high school (mean girls).  I role-play with her as often as she will let me.  (It is actually fun - more flashbacks) She is AMAZED at how nasty my non-suppressed simple sibling memories are.  Then she realizes just why she is an ONLY child...  "Yes, we are awesome friends NOW..."  Enough said, hee hee.
   I am blessed to have developed the wide-open-door communication with my daughter.   The things that she is 100% comfortable telling/asking me warrants the moment of silent prayer that I just took!  As a middle child - mostly by choice I believe - I took the independent path and asked only those questions that I could NOT figure out for myself (and believe me-- those were painful to have to ask)!  I just did not want help... not with the other two demanding so much all of the time-- I knew my mom was exhausted!  (Not talking smack--my sissies know). 
   The true Mom/Daughter bond for me came when I gave birth and joined the "club".   Finally- Mom always telling me, "Just WAIT until you have a daughter of your own!!" Such a magical time and new phase in our relationship.  The next milestone was when my Dad passed.  I am most like him (brilliant, witty workaholic...) I was pretending to be him just then... sorry, kind of J.   I spent that first month with my Mom and it was the first time that we got to know each other as 'women'.  VERY COOL.  Getting to know me answered SO many questions about my Dad for her!  Because I am also a wife, a mommy, etc.. I could explain it in 'girl talk'!  For being such a sad time, it was one of our best mommy/me times too!  Funny how life works that way, isn't it?
   I hope that my daughter and I can mark similar milestones in our relationship as the decades pass and I hope that her respect for me grows like mine has for my MOM!   Every parent does the best that they can with what they have.   I think it is every grown-ups CHOICE to use their childhood as a crutch OR to use it as a pole vault!