From an early age, Damon West’s innate ability to throw a ball farther than most of his peers made him a promising quarterback. Even though he stood just under 6-feet tall, his talent was recognisable and he was recruited by a lot of schools to play (American) football. As a reward for his talent, he landed a scholarship programme at University of North Texas where he became a starter during his sophomore year, throwing a touchdown in his first game against (then No. 2) Arizona State. However, in life, with ability also comes adversity. In his second game, he separated his shoulder and never played again.

The injury denied him of the natural progression to playing pro, so after graduating in 1999, he worked at the United State Congress and later at a stock brokerage which was where a co-worker introduced him to “methamphetamines” commonly know as “meth”. In his own admittance, he said -“I gave up everything for that drug”, explaining that he had to eventually feed the habit by burglarising homes. The Dallas Police Department SWAT team later arrested him and he was handed a 65-year sentence for multiple burglaries.

During his incarceration at a Texas correctional facility, he met another inmate by the name of “Mr. Jackson” who shared with him the apocryphal tale of “the coffee bean”. He told West to imagine prison as three pots of boiling water, in the first were placed carrots, in the second were placed eggs and in the last were placed coffee beans. Each of these items had faced the same adversity - “boiling water” and each reacted differently.

• The carrot went in strong and tough. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weakened by its environment.

• The egg had been fragile, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.

• The coffee bean was unique, however. After being put in the boiling water, it transforms the boiling water to coffee.

As it turns out, the smallest of all three items had the power to change its pressurised environment. This wisdom helped West to not only survive but thrive in the harshest of environments, fending off gangs and developing grit.

After serving 7years of his 65-year sentence, West was handed a second chance in life by way of parole. He decided he wanted to serve humanity as opposed to serving time. He used his story to inspire others and has since navigated the pathway to becoming a successful motivational speaker and best selling author.

In life, when faced with tough circumstances or situations like the current global pandemic and its adverse effects of death, discouragement and despair, we can either crumble and become weakened by these circumstances, letting the fear get the best of us or become hardened, angry and frustrated by its effects on us. When adversity knocks on our door, we can either be a carrot or an egg, or we can refuse to be a victim of our circumstance and choose to positively transform our environment by being a coffee bean.

Remember - “True character is revealed only when pressure is applied” - Robert McKee

Peace, love and Light.