Boulder - Sized Pebbles.

Growing up, my brother was into skateboarding. So, of course, just 2 years younger, so was I. We built and rebuilt boards, new wheels, bearings, trucks....
I never owned my OWN board, but he had several and I learned to ride.


And FALL.
HARD.
WITHOUT HELMETS OR PADS.


That was life back then. We didn't wear helmets and pads (even though we had them). We rode in the streets. Hot asphalt to break our falls.


And, the hard molded plastic wheels were certain to seek out the tiniest of pebbles to lodge into said wheels, causing the board to instantaneously seize while projecting your shocked body with Jet force into fast forward motion without it.


We expected it. We KNEW it was inevitable. Yet, we still were in shock when it happened.


Human Nature is funny that way. We go through life knowing the cycle. Birth. Life. Death. And, still, we are at a loss. Shocked.


One of my favorite poems is titled "The Dash". It speaks to the "dash" between the day you are born and the day you die. That dash represents the way you lived your life. The impact you made on others, the difference you made while on Earth.


What the poem does NOT speak to, however, are those dang pebbles which cause your "wheels" to seize up. We all have them.


We all face hard times. Greif. Loss.Sadness.Frustrations. We all have to deal with these things at some point in life. These are the HUGE BOULDERS that sit in front of us.


Because it's part of that cycle.


But, those pebbles. Oh, those GLORIOUS pebbles..... They seem to devastate us more than those boulders.


These pebbles come in many forms.
Harsh Words.
Dirty Looks.
Ignorance.
Intolerance.
Poor Communication.
Unkind Acts
Non-Forgiveness
Harsh Judgement
Name calling.


By "Skating in and around" these pebbles, one is guaranteed to get hurt. Afterall, on the surface, none of these surprise you, do they?


You probably deal with these on a daily basis.


They aren't BOULDERS. Certainly, they sometimes aren't even intentional. But it only takes one to get stuck in your wheel to do damage. Just one.


Unfortunately, no amount of padding is going to soften the damage. And, you never know which pebble will be the one that DOES devastate you.


Look around. Guaranteed you will see someone that needs you to sweep those pebbles out of their way. Maybe they don't yet see them in their path. Or , perhaps, they just need help in picking up that broom to sweep.


Either way, be there. It's okay not to understand. After all, your pebbles are more than likely different. Acknowledge this. Be honest. But be there.


While you are here, make YOUR DASH reflect kindness and empathy towards others. Make it your mission to pay as much attention to the pebbles as you do the boulders. Others will notice. You might be responsible for changing someone else's life for the better.......including your own.