The Directory 2023-2024

L ear n

Never give up! Is that lemonade you’re making?

Georgene Connelly Senior Living Consultant The Waters Senior Living N ever give up,” is what my mom always said. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Maybe you’ve heard that one. We’ve all had to muster some perseverance during the tough times that we’ve been through in the past few years. Th is story of the potato, egg, and co ff ee bean demonstrates how we all react di ff erently to adversity.

Finally, he asked her to sip the co ff ee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. “Father, what does this mean?” He then explained that the potatoes, eggs, and co ff ee beans had each faced the same adversity–boiling water. However, each one reacted di ff erently. “Which are you?” he asked his daughter. Now thinking of yourself, are you a potato, an egg, or a co ff ee bean? We build wisdom by how we react to our experiences. How do we manage di ffi culties? No one knows better than our older adults who have earned wisdom, and they are willing to talk about it. Recently a few of them commented on their struggles with tough situations. David, Ruby, Doris, Alice, and Helen have faced adversity in their lives. How were they changed by it?

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He fi lled three pots with water and placed each pot over a high fl ame. When the water began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground co ff ee beans in the third. He then let them boil for a while without saying a word. Th e daughter moaned and waited impatiently, wondering what her father was doing. After 20 minutes, he turned o ff the burners, took the potatoes and eggs out of the pots, placed them in di ff erent bowls, and poured the co ff ee into a cup. Turning to her, he asked, “What do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs, and co ff ee,” she quickly 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. She observed that it was now hard-boiled.

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Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?

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 fi ghting and struggling all the time. It seemed that just as one problem was resolved, another one soon followed.

Never give up! continues on page 31 >

David

Doris

Ruby

When things are going bad you just hang in there. Put your head down, work hard, and be good to people, and do the right things.

I have friends, and that helps me keep my mind off problems. Why? Because sometimes their problems are bigger than mine. When I listen to them, I fi ndmyself wanting to help. Listening and being supportive of my friends winds up helping me, too.

Many years ago, I was faced with life’s mortality when my percentage of survival was very low. I survived, and I feel my time is not up. I feel I need to do more for others, and that helps me make it through the storms of life. Every day reminds me how fortunate I have been. Not everyone faces their mortality and can live to speak about it.

Then things will take care of themselves. Have faith in yourself.

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