Stonewalled!
Hello friends. On a recent, crisp fall stroll through some picturesque New Hampshire woods, I was once again amazed by the network of stone walls crisscrossing the terrain. I particularly marveled at one that climbed a steep ridge, spanned the mossy boulder outcroppings at the top, then continued its linear journey down the other side and out of sight.
As I stood there, a few life metaphors popped into my head, and I knew I needed to share them here, in hopes they might help you to gain a new perspective for your daily life. So, without further ado, here we go!
First course: Perseverance.
Think about how long it took our ancestors to move all these stones from where they were―including some buried deep―haul them to their new resting place, then stack them in such a way they’d stay in that spot for centuries. And all without machinery!
Kinda gives you a new perspective on staying strong, working hard, and not giving up, doesn’t it?
Middle course: Beauty and the eye of the beholder.
Look, almost none of these walls were built for aesthetics. The land needed to be cleared to plant crops and graze livestock, it’s that simple. Unlike some of the gorgeous landscaping walls you’ve seen while driving through your local neighborhoods, these mossy monsters are comprised of any number of shapes and sizes. Some are stacked fairly flat atop their neighbors, but many are thrown together at wild angles, leaving gaps and cracks in the structure, yet they still hold strong, centuries later.
Aren’t we all made up a bunch of shapes and sizes? There are many days when we’re throwing ourselves together, patching up the gaps and cracks in order to survive another day in this crazy life. Even with our insecurities and self-doubts, it’s amazing how much strength we can find if we all stick together.
Upper layer: Don’t get stonewalled!
While stone walls have long been used as protection―from livestock enclosures to dwellings and garrison fortifications―they’ve also become a synonym for stubbornness. This can shine through in a positive way, like standing strong in the face of adversity, or cast negative vibes in the form of blocking someone out and being purposefully evasive.
I say embrace the former and reject the latter! Become the kind of person who maintains a strong foundation, shelters their loved ones, and protects those who cannot protect themselves. Don’t let folks walk all over you and keep you from being the best person you can be. Life is too short to put up with those who would hold you back. You deserve better!
Well, I guess that trowels the final layer of mortar on my monolithic metaphoric masterpiece. It’s time to lay the capstone with one final thought: Regardless of how your day is going, how stressed you are, or what life stage you’re existing within, take the time to be someone else’s rock. You might be the proverbial one jutting from beneath the waves, a symbol of strength and solidity for someone to grab ahold of and be rescued.
Thanks for tuning in again this week, you rock! I do appreciate you allowing me to share my perspectives on things, and hope that my thoughts can help you in some small way. Until next week, whatever you are, stand strong and be a good one!
-Dave
