The Water That Softens The Potato, Hardens The Egg

There will come a time where seeds of doubt seem to grow in gardens where we once felt courageous.

Silent moments when we clap for others, wondering when it will finally be our turn.

This lingering heaviness seems to grow as we continue to question ourselves. We wonder if we are doing so little, going too slow, or maybe that we are simply not built for the dreams we long for.

We see others bloom and shine, while we remain buried beneath the same soil, waiting for a season we get to call ours.

Somewhere along the way, we tend to forget that life was never meant to be a race towards the finish line.

We are all built differently, to an extent limited to what our eyes can perceive. All of us have our own unique features and attributes. Some of us still learn in fields that others already know well. We sometimes try to achieve something too quickly, when others take time to hone their skills properly.

In moments of defeat, others push through, while some are left still wounded but healing.

Perhaps that is what life often does to us. It tests how eager we are towards the goals we set for ourselves. It tests the strength within us, how long we can stand against all odds, and how patiently we can endure the wait.

Like the potato and egg submerged in the same pot of boiling water. The potato that was once hard, softens, and the egg that was once fragile, hardens.

We, too, may be placed under the same heat and pressure.

We may grow to be more soft, learning to not be so harsh towards ourselves. Realizing that every little achievement does not have to be overlooked and is worthy of validation. But on the other side, we may also grow to be hard and brave. Giving us the flame to not give up easily as we navigate towards the trials of life.

So the next moment where we find ourselves celebrating the victory of others, let us do so without disregarding our own worth. Seeing it through a lens of inspiration and not comparison.

After all, the same water gives two different scenarios: it softens the potato and hardens the egg. The same situation can shape people in different ways, and neither is less valuable than the other.