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Change Your View: Become Someone New

Life of a Coffee Bean

By Adrienne HugginsPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Change Your View: Become Someone New
Photo by Alin Luna on Unsplash

Sally, a young woman just fresh out of high school, was coming to learn the difficulties of adulthood. Every day, she faced a new obstacle. It seemed as though every time she overcame one obstacle, another stood in her way. Frustrated, she began complaining to her friends and family about her struggles.

She had once been a lively, upbeat girl, one who loved a challenge and jumped at the opportunity to experience new things, but lately, she found herself growing deep resentment for the world and life's struggles. She found herself crying when she would wake, and she began expecting the worst out of every situation.

Sally remembered just a year ago, she couldn't wait to become an adult. Her father had tried to get her to enjoy her teenage years; he encouraged her to just live her life and not to grow up so quickly. When reaching adulthood, Sally wanted to prove to her father she could handle it, that she was ready to grow up, and that no matter the adversity, she could overcome it.

After months of crying and not knowing what to do with her life anymore, Sally just wanted to give up. Finally, she decided to visit her father, remembering her childhood and all the valuable lessons he had taught her in youth.

Swallowing her pride, Sally headed to her father's house. When she arrived, she instantly knew she had made the right decision in turning to her father for his much-needed advice. He greeted her with a smile and a hug, and Sally just couldn't bear it anymore.

Letting out a wail, Sally cried, "Dad, I just don't know what to do. No matter what I do, I fail. It seems to be just one struggle after another, and I can't do this anymore!"

Sally's father patted her on the back and began walking toward the kitchen, motioning for Sally to follow him. Without saying another word to her, he proceeded to grab three pots, fill them with water, and place them on the stovetop. Sally stood watching her father, confused, but knowing there was a point to his actions.

He grabbed a potato from the potato bin, an egg from the refrigerator, and some coffee beans from the cupboard. In one boiling pot, he put the potato; in another, he placed the egg; and in the last pot, he poured in some coffee beans. After several minutes of the water boiling, Sally was becoming impatient.

Her father then went to the stove and used a ladle to retrieve the potato and the egg from their respective pots, then he placed them on the counter. Next, he strained the beans from the liquid and poured Sally a cup of coffee.

"What do you see?" Sally's father asked, handing the cup of coffee to Sally.

"A potato, an egg, and a cup of coffee," Sally was annoyed, as she felt like this was a redundant question.

"Look harder," her father said with a half grin.

Sally took a sip of her coffee and shook her head. "A potato, an egg and a cup of coffee," she said with a sarcastic tone, actually enjoying the sip of coffee.

"No," her father stated. He explained, "All three of these things faced the same adversity - boiling hot water. But each one came out different, Sally."

Pushing on the soft potato with his pointer finger, he said, "The potato was hard when it was placed into the boiling water. Now, it has a soft center. The egg was delicate and soft with a hard layer protecting its core, and now, it is hard on the inside. The coffee beans transformed plain water into something beautiful and delightful."

Sally's father explained, "See, each of these items are different in their own way, each facing adversity in their own way. Everyone faces adversity, Sally. It's how we deal with that adversity that will shape our future. Which one are you: the potato, the egg, or the coffee bean? Become something new with each adversity, and you will become something beautiful and delightful. Be the coffee bean."

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