Re: OT psycology/philosophy

[Guest guest]

I dont make a habit of forwarding this type of mail and it is a bit off

topic but I felt it may be valuable food for thought, pardon the pun, for the

group and somewhat relevant to the discussion of how attitude can either be a

good thing or a bad thing with psoriasis. I would have to say that after

reading this I have been each of the 3 examples in sequence. Orin

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 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 a 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 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 hour is the darkest and trials are

their greatest do you elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Count your blessings, not your problems.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Orin. That was lovely - three cheers for coffee!

> I dont make a habit of forwarding this type of mail and it is a

bit off

> topic but I felt it may be valuable food for thought, pardon the

pun, for the

> group and somewhat relevant to the discussion of how attitude can

either be a

> good thing or a bad thing with psoriasis. I would have to say

that after

> reading this I have been each of the 3 examples in sequence. Orin

>

> 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 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 a 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 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 hour is the darkest and

trials are

> their greatest do you elevate to another level?

>

>

> How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee

bean?

>

> Count your blessings, not your problems.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/25/2003 1:42:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, orinok@...

writes:

>

> How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

>

> Count your blessings, not your problems.

>

Orin,

That was well put. It is definitely true that we should count the blessing

that we do have.

Janet

[Guest guest]

>

> ... 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 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.

> ...

> 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.

That's a nice story Orin, but I think you need to adjust the cooking

times a bit. I can however say with full confidence that I am very

much like coffee grounds would be if they had been boiled in hot

water for a full 20 minutes - ACRID AND BITTER! ;-)

-- Ron