I thought I would share a little inspiration. I absolutely love this story! What are you? A Carrot? An Egg? or A Coffee Bean?
Emmie, a young woman in her 30's was having struggles in her life and turned to her beloved Grammy for guidance. Emmie was at the end of her rope and ready to give up on life. Everything in her eyes was going wrong. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
As she began spilling her heart out to Grammy, Grammy took her by the hand and led her into 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, Grammy turned off the burners. First she fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl; Then she then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Finally, she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Grammy turned to Emmie and asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," Emmie replied.
Grammy brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. Emmie did and "Grammy, they are soft". Grammy then asked Emmie to an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, Emmie observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, Grammy asked her to sip the coffee. Emmie smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
Adorning a puzzled look, Emmie asked, "What does it mean, Grammy?"
Grammy began to 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?" Grammy asked of Emmie. "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 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 of your life. 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 level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life and flavor to them?
ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?
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