That bad huh? Even big Ben is coming up to me and asking what's wrong.

I know that i've sort of changed somewhat. Whether it's a good sign or not, is up to the individuals perspective. I think of it as shaping my life. I believe everyone has moment(s) where they have to face different trials and tribulations of life, and it is through the passing of these obstacles that determine who they are as a person eventually. And it doesn't even matter if one succeeds or fail in that task. There will be a change.

I would like to share a little story which i've heard once in my primary school, and a second time in my secondary school. I'm pretty sure that most of you out there have heard of this one too. To prevent any discrepancies between how the story is told and how much i can actually recall, i managed to find the tale in a website somewhere. So, enjoy.

Potatoes, Eggs And Coffee Beans

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.

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.

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.

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 a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"

"Potatoes, eggs, and 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.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity - the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in 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.

However, the ground 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? "

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you?

It is a fact that everyone single soul on this planet will have to face some problems, situations and worries in their lives. It is how you face them that differentiate you from the others. Take some time and think about it.


-ydaerlauoygnissimmaidna-


***

The Nut Within the Shell 101:

Fact #71:

I'm a uber huge fan of the anime 'One Piece' ! I watch both the anime on VeohTV and catch up with the manga when it get's uploaded. Currently, anime-wise, it's on episode 350, and still running! The 'Mugiwara (Straw Hats)' crew haven't even got to the 'New World' yet, which is the other half of the second part of the anime. There's still another five of the 'Shichibukai' to face, Zoro's battle with Mihawk, the four 'Yonkous', the Marine heads and of course, the 'Gorosei', if they even do battle at all.

Besides the storyline line, which is very enjoyable with intriguing plots and many comical scenes (with references to Luffy and his crew), the anime also touches on different aspects of lives, like friendship, loyalty, hopes, dreams and fears. All these talk about なかま(nakama) makes me wonder about how strong the bonds of friendship can be in our oh-so-real lives. It may just be another anime to some of you, but give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised.



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