 Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn’t know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” she hastily replied. “Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. “Father, what does this mean?” she asked. He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new. “Which are you,” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? “ Moral:In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us. Which one are you? If you enjoyed this message please take a moment to share it! If you're interest in learning more about us please visit us at www.tkdarmor.com or message us on Facebook!  When you Google Indomitable Spirit, here is what comes up….
“People described as having an indomitable spirit don't need pep talks or protein shakes; their strength comes from within. The adjective indomitable starts with the Latin prefix in, which means "not." The second part of the word is also from the Latin word domitare, meaning ‘to tame’.” Russell Redenbaugh was building a model rocket in his garage when he was 16 years old. The rocket went off accidentally leaving him totally blind and with permanent damage to both hands (he lost 6 fingers). He was determined to not live the life as a typical handicap person. He shifted his focus to action. He focused on what he could do, and not what he couldn’t. Despite being rejected by Stanford and Harvard, he went on to earn an MBA from the Wharton School in the University of Pennsylvania. At the age of fifty, Redenbaugh started training in the martial arts. As a blind person missing fingers, he won several competitions in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2010, Redenbaugh earned the rank of black belt. Today he is an ultra-successful economist, investor, and inspirational speaker. Russell wrote a book entitled, “Shift the Narrative: A Blind Man’s Vision for Rewriting the Stories that Limit Us” Check out his TED Talk here: https://youtu.be/AOOc3VO_Gyg At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, British sprinter Derek Redmond had his dreams of an Olympic medal crushed by a debilitating hamstring injury in the middle of a semi-final race.
But whereas most athletes would just submit to defeat, bend over, and cry, Redmond was determined to finish what he started. So, he picks himself up off the ground and begins hobbling around the track toward the finish line. Then, just when it seems he might not be able to go on any longer, Redmond’s dad breaks through security to get on the track and puts his arm around his son, who cries on his shoulder as the two finish the race together. Derek's dream of winning was over, yet he still knew how important it was to finish the race he started. What a great lesson for us all! It's easy to be a great starter. Champions in life are great finishers! Here’s a clip of this touching moment set to inspirational music by Coldplay. https://youtu.be/fqZtsLfHUM4 You can learn more about us at www.tkdarmor.com |
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