Adversity: A Short Story

What makes us who we truly are? Some say our decisions define us, others our experiences, and still others believe our identities are all predetermined by our genetics. A simple story I have heard offers an answer to this controversy. If a person throws an egg, a carrot, and a coffee bean each into a pot of boiling water, the outcome is different for each of them. The egg will harden, the carrot will soften, and the coffee bean will change the water it was in. The water in this analogy symbolizes adversity. All of the objects faced the same adversity, but each responded in a unique way. Similarly, some people’s hearts are hardened by their negative experiences, but others take those experiences and transform them into learning opportunities.

She said it was difficult not being able to see her boyfriend for weeks or months at a time, but she said phone calls and letters made it easier. Amy believes the key to enduring a long distance relationship is for partners to allow each other to develop on their own without becoming jealous of one another’s new experiences. Against all odds, Amy and her high school sweetheart managed to stay together, and they now have two sons. Their six-year-old started the first grade last month, and the proud mother was happy to report that their five-month-old has recently grown two whole teeth. It is safe to say Amy and her partner’s endurance paid off in the long

My sister has run into some mental health issues over the past two years. My sister and I used to be the closest two human beings could possibly be. We could remember any random detail about each other or our shared experiences from all sixteen years we spent as partners in crime on this earth. My sister dropped out of college two years ago, and she started hanging out with some questionable people. When I called her out on her behavior, my sister turned on me, similar to the way Amy’s father used to snap at her during his episodes. She no longer talks to me, even after I have made efforts to reach out to her. Although it hurts me, Amy helped me understand that I need to wait out the pain and understand that it is not my fault. I also admire how Amy managed to stay in a relationship with her high school sweetheart. I am currently trying to maintain a long distance relationship, and I feel like no one believes it is possible anymore. It was inspiring to hear about someone who actually made it work. Finally, I appreciate Amy’s values and her outlook on life. She believes in being kind and thoughtful of others, raising others up, and valuing friends and family over money and power. Amy has become a role model to me because her heart did not harden after facing distress; instead, it became even more open to caring for