Are You a Carrot, An Egg, or a Coffee Bean?

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, 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 were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her 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—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 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 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 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 get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another lever?

So!During adversity and difficult times,

Are you a Carrot, an Egg? or a Coffee Bean?

A Letter from an Employee to his Boss

Dear Boss,

Believe it or not, I didn’t wake up this morning thinking that my main goal for the day was to go to work and make mistakes. I really don’t like making mistakes. No one I know does. However, I believe that trying new things requires both experimentation and learning. Whether we like it or not, along with learning comes the proverbial “learning curve.” And along with that comes occasional errors. Therefore, I really need you to treat my mistakes (as long as they’re unintentional and low in negative impact) as learning opportunities instead of MAJOR performance problems.

I know that you want me to be open to change – to be willing to try new ways of doing things. And I do understand that getting behind change is truly important to the success of our business. But sometimes I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I don’t change or seem willing to step out of my status-quo comfort zone, you’re unhappy. If I do change or try something new, but don’t get it just right the first time, you’re unhappy again ... and I feel like a failure.

Can you see the tough spot I sometimes find myself in? No action can result in trouble. Less-than-perfect action often produces the same thing: trouble. In those situations, it’s generally safer to choose the lesser of two evils – to do nothing rather than risk making a mistake.

Here are a few things that you can do to help me deal with this dilemma:

• Assume that my mistakes are unintentional unless you have evidence to the contrary.
• Don’t punish me if I’ve done the best I can.
• Treat me the way you would like to be treated if you tried your best but unfortunately erred.
• Constructively help me identify what I can do to avoid repeating any mistake I make.
• Give me a chance to fix the problem.

If you do these, I’ll be even more willing to try new things, embrace change, and improve my overall performance. And as a result, I’ll feel good about myself ... and about you. I will feel like I’m learning and growing, and that your goal is to support me – rather than punish me.

So, if I do make a mistake, I wish you would just remember that I did so with the best intentions. Please also do remember that you made mistakes too, and that nobody’s perfect and your support will help me learn from it rather than run from it. 
Moral of this is:

Nobody's perfect, Everybody needs confidence and a second chance, be open minded and never think you know everything, learn to listen, remember others have opinions too.

"People who think they know everything, actually know very little"

The Window of Hope

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man  was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and   families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where  his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and  color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.  Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He   began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man   watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no  words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his   first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Moral of the story:

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like   programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits.

If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips  just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.

Courage - The Emmanuel Kelly Story!

I am sure you have read and seen many stories on courage. I was in the process of writing about this topic and came across this unbelievable individual. Who clearly epitomizes the true meaning of the word courage.

He is 17(well he’s not sure himself). Born in Iraq, he survived chemical warfare and is the brother of previously conjoined Bangladeshi twins.

His name is Emmanuel Kelly, he and his brother Ahmed were adopted from Iraq, both suffering limb deficiencies as a result of chemical warfare. They were abandoned at an orphanage and rescued by Children First Foundation boss Moira Kelly. He lives in Australia with his brother and adopted mother Moira Kelly.

Well let me not say much more. You will understand what I mean after you watch him perform at a Talent contest called “X” factor in Australia.

We tend to grumble most of the time on how life was so cruel to us and the little things that don’t go our way. We are so ungrateful and pathetic sometimes, forgetting how fortunate we are for what we are and what we have.

So my friends don’t forget the small mercies that come your way and cherish your life. Because we all are special, life is special, so live it!

Glass Of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and was hungry. He decided to ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a glass of water. She taught he looked hungry, so she brought him a glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked “how much do I owe you?”. You don’t owe me anything, she replied. My mother always taught us never to accept money for kindness. He then said thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A Howard Kelly left the house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in god and man became stronger.

Many years later, the woman who gave the boy a glass of milk became critically ill, The doctors were baffled and sent her to the big city where they called a specialist to study her rare disease.

The Consultant that was called was that same boy Howard Kelly, who was now a Specialist. When he heard of the town from where she had come from, a strange light filled his eyes. He immediately went to see her, she was lying in bed. He recognized her at once; he was determined to do his best to save her life. After a long struggle, he managed to save her. She was cured of her illness.

On the day of her being discharged from the hospital, he instructed the hospital to forward all the medical bills to him. He saw the bills and wrote something on it and sent it to the lady.

She feared to open it, as she was sure it would cost a lifetime for her to pay for it. Finally she looked at it, there was something written on the side of the bill that caught her attention.

Tears poured down her eyes when she began reading what Dr Kelly had written. It said

“Paid in full with one glass of milk”

Signed Dr Howard Kelly

May we strive on with great attention, to grow in Wisdom and Compassion!

THE MORAL OF THE STORY:

Be kind and helpful, you’ll never know what your kind and helping nature will give you in return.

Have You Made a Difference in Someone’s Life?

They say we all live to serve. That by helping others we fulfill our own destiny.

I do not know if this is correct, but I do know the feeling I get when I help someone and see what a difference I have made in their lives something happens, I get a sense of fulfillment, happiness and I feel a sense of purpose, a surge of energy.

I do not know if this is proof that helping others is our destiny, but I do know that it is enough of a reason to try and help someone when we get the chance.

I strive to help. I don’t have a degree, everything I know I learnt through self-study and determination. I wanted to learn!. I feel all this knowledge is wasted, if I am not able to share with others. That’s the main purpose of my blog. You may not know me personally, but I am sure this knowledge will help you in abundance.

Make a difference

We are all gifted with a unique set of skills and abilities. With those abilities we can make extra-ordinary things happen in the world around us

Many people set lofty goals for their lives and want to be remembered as visionaries, they want to change and save the world. Others want to be remembered as the kind man or women down the street who always helped and always listened if you needed help.

Who do you think is the better person?

The one who changes the world or the one who saves the individual?

Do what you can with what you have.

To make a difference and be remembered you do not have to do incredible things, just being there for the people around you can save someone from a meaningless life and help them lead the life they were meant to live.

Small things matter

Listening to other people’s problems without passing judgment is one of the kindest things you can do. Most people know the answers to the problems they are facing; they just haven’t realized it yet.
By letting them talk through their problems on their own, you help them find their path and realize what they should do.
Sometimes they might need encouragement and help to start on this new path, which is something, you, usually, always can give.

Doing something amazing

Changing the life of another person is an incredible feeling and it is completely within your grasp.
Fight for someone’s rights

You will often see someone get treated unfairly. It happens both professionally and socially, individuals who deserve recognition do not get it.

By taking up the fight and making sure others get what they deserve and earned you will be a true hero. You will make a lasting impact on their lives and you will be rewarded with love and help in the future when you are in need. A good act is one that you should do without fear, with love and with the knowledge that you will one day be rewarded.

Conclusion

In truth we might all be here to help each other, we might all be a part of a machine that fosters cooperation, or were not. We might just be here to make the best of the situation for ourselves.

In any case, helping others brings happiness and prosperity into your own life, so for whatever reason you chose to help others, it will always help you in return.

I hope you liked this article and if it has made a difference just leave a comment! 

Possessions = Security

For most people, one of the most difficult obstacles to getting rid of possessions is the feeling of security they attach to possessions.

Having possessions, for many, gives them a sense of security.

This is just one of many emotional attachments that people have to possessions, but security issues are the biggest for many, and until you address this, you’ll probably always have an issue with possessions.

Some examples of security issues:

§ Having a closet full of clothes means you’re prepared for any situation.

§ Having a big home means you’re prepared to host any event, ward off any type of weather, hold any type of possession, and accommodate any size family you might have in the future.

§ Having a car means you’re prepared for any emergency.

§ Having a shed full of tools means you can deal with any break down in the house or car.

§ Having the latest gadget (i.e. the iPad) means you’re up to date with the latest technology, and won’t be an out-of-date dinosaur.

§ Having a hand-held computing device (i.e. the iPhone or Blackberry or iPad) means you can work anywhere, and be in contact at all times.

And so on. Most people have possessions for these kinds of security reasons and more. But do possessions really provide security, or is it an illusion? Often we don’t really need those possessions as much as we might think, and even when we do have them, we’re not as secure as we might think. Consider this:

If you track what clothes you actually wear over the course of a year, you find that you never needed your “just in case” clothes and you only wore certain clothes that you like or really need. The extra clothes can be eliminated without any loss of “security”.

§ People in smaller homes are no more susceptible to anything, and by eliminating space they eliminate waste, lower debt, and force themselves to make important choices about what possessions are needed.

§ Even without a car, you can do everything you need using bikes, walking and mass transit, especially if you reduce your needs. And for real emergencies, there’s the ambulance, which is better than driving yourself anyway.

§ You don’t really need the latest gadget. What you’ve been using will work just fine for you, and when you really need to upgrade, you’ll know it.

§ You don’t really need to be connected all the time, everywhere. In fact, there was a time when you were never connected to the online world (not that long ago) and (gasp!) you survived. You can do it for an hour or three until you get back to your computer.

Ok! So here’s a test for you. Empty you wardrobe/closet, you will realize there are so many clothes that you have not worn for god knows, maybe donkey’s years and you may eventually ask yourself
 “Do I Really Need So Many Clothes?”.

Let go of the need for possessions by realizing you don’t need them for security.