A Retell Of “A Potato, An Egg, And A Coffee Bean”
In the world of disruptive technologies, there are no rules to follow or conform with, there are only rules waiting to be changed.
Here is my own retelling of a story about a potato, an egg, and a coffee bean:
Once upon a time, the potato, the egg and the coffee bean were always arguing about who is the strongest among them.
One day, they saw a pot of boiling water and the potato said:
“This is a pot of boiling water. We can put each one of us to a test to see who can withstand the boiling water the best.”
The egg and the coffee bean both agreed. The potato was over the moon because it knew that it is harder than both the “soft-shell” egg and the “teeny-weeny” coffee bean.
The potato was quick to jump into the pot of boiling water. After a few minutes, when it jumped out of the pot, it had become weak and soft inside.
The egg was the next to jump into the pot of boiling water. After a few minutes, when it jumped out of the pot, it had become strong and hard inside.
Lastly, the coffee bean jumped into the pot of boiling water. After a few minutes, when it jumped out of the pot, it had not only changed the color of the boiling water but had also given out a rich aroma.
The moral of the story is that when we are placed into a struggle, we can either be weakened, or we can be hardened, or we can change our circumstances for the better.
The “struggle” is the boiling water. The “weakened” is the potato. The “hardened” is the egg. The one who changed the circumstances is the coffee bean. It changed the color of the boiling water surrounding it and even gave out a rich aroma.
Life is fraught with struggles. How we weather the storm confronting us is what truly matters, regardless of what we started out as.
We can start out well and end up bad. We can start out unwell and end up good. What we are born as, whether we are smart or not so smart, whether we have well-heeled parents or are from humble backgrounds — all these are beyond our control.
What is within our control is how we confront adversities in life because every individual and every circumstance presents its own challenges. Change our circumstances to overcome whatever we are faced with.
The story has not ended. Here is my own extended version:
The coffee bean said to the potato and the egg:
“The Sun does not shine on itself.
The river does not drink from its own water.
The tree does not eat its own grown fruit.
Nature tells us that living for others is the rule of nature — to help others.
Goodness is when we are happy.
More goodness is when others are happy because of us.
I, a coffee bean, do not diffuse rich aromas for myself.
The aroma is for others to enjoy.”
And the coffee bean invited both the potato and the egg to enjoy its rich aroma.
Cheers everyone!
Credits:
Coffee bean icons created by nawicon — Flaticon. Potato icons created by Vectors Market — Flaticon. Egg icons created by max.icons — Flaticon.
