The boiling water, the potato and the egg

[auntieannie]

There's this quote: "The same boiling water that softens the potato,hardens the egg" and apparently, here's what makes it complete: "It's about what you're made of, not the circumstances".

And I am not sure about the second part. To me, it speaks of human reaction to life/trauma.

Would you care to discuss ?

[Scrubb]

I was just thinking about that this morning. Not the quote, but the idea - I was thinking about how different people respond to EVERYTHING differently. A piece of news that is exciting to one person is frightening to another. I remember when I posted on the Political Stew board about how I had been riding an ATV at work and it was really difficult terrain - lots of mud, hard going - but I got through without getting stuck. Added that "I love my job, some days!" And someone else responded with "I love my job because I DON'T have to go on muddy ATV rides!"

That said, though, I think the saying - the last part - a bit facile. It opens up the prejudice that some people are "just weak", and can't roll with the punches - and that those who come through unscathed (or less scathed) are "better" some how. And that the "weak" people should just pull up their socks and be strong. And that is really unfair. We are all different, we all process trauma differently, and while it would be great if resources were available to help everyone deal with it the best way they can, that isn't the case.

The world needs potatoes AND eggs.

[Voy]

Scrubb said: The world needs potatoes AND eggs.

And the world REALLY needs water - to boil them, and drink and wash and ( where available ) flush !

[slowcoach]

I managed to read it, as is. And it is just a trite comment on the nature of things. In this case polysaccharides vs proteins.

The reference in the 2nd person to non-human organisms didn't phase me at all.

Were I to suggest that my resistance to such duff analogies was a case of water off a duck's back, would they expect me to quack.

[OnlyMark]

If we all reacted the same to different circumstances we wouldn't be human but computer programmed robots.
Potatoes and eggs together make for some very tasty recipes that are better than the sum of their parts. We must work together no matter our differences to make the world a better place.
Celebrate yin and yang and embrace our differences.

Join me next week to explore how a healing red jasper crystal under your pillow can help you withstand challenges such as invariably waking up with a stiff neck and answer the question as to if it is the crystal that causes the stiff neck, then is it really a force of good?

[Netsuke]

First, I admit to not reading any of the responses.

The OP has nothing to do with potatoes or eggs, it is not about cooking. You’re aren’t the only person in the universe with problems!  You’re not the only one going through a hard time, plenty of others are in the same boat and you don’t hear them complaining.  You have two choices - 1. You let it get to you and slide down life’s ravine and give up or, 2. You get up, and fight back. Don’t let them win.

[auntieannie]

Dr Only... a new path for you? I am really glad I'm not having to listen to that kind of crap anymore (about healing crystals etc...)

[OnlyMark]

I would take the crystal path if my IQ was the same as my shoe size (44).
But.... if someone gets benefit from it, then good to them.

[auntieannie]

oh, totally, it's a crutch.

[rikita]

a quote i like is "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade - unless life forgot to give you also water and sugar" - because even if circumstances might look the same for different people, there are often differences in the details, and yeah, sometimes those might be in the personality of the person, but there might also be other small advantages one person has that the other hasn't, maybe just one lucky break or one person who supports them, while the other is alone ...

[auntieannie]

yes, that makes all the difference, rikita.