Sitting On Rocks
Apparently “doers” sit on rocks.
Not only that “doers” sit on rocks and still “do”…. a lot in fact.
I know a real “doer” success expert Ann Webb; this girl knows how to get things done! Ann’s company Ideal LifeVision has helped many become “doers” of amazing things in their own lives, reaching goals and creating success beyond their wildest dreams.
Not long ago Ann shared how she had spent her morning driving to a nearby mountain canyon with another real powerhouse, knock your socks off “doer” Tiffany Peterson. The two of them went for a drive in a nearby canyon, they were not really dressed to hike so they just sat on rocks, and that was all she said about that……. Sat on rocks……really?
The mental image of these two “in the game of life “powerhouses just sitting on rocks marinated with me for days. The magnitude of success these two women create, the lives they change and the grace in which they do it all and yet they have time to sit on rocks? How could they possibly have the time to do such an unproductive thing such as sit on a rock? What was it really about? I concluded this must be a secret to success, this rock sitting business.
I am blessed to live just minutes from a beautiful canyon, so off I went to explore my own rock sitting adventure. The winding roads were inviting turn after turn slowly revealing the premiere of autumn displaying delightful suggestions of a blockbuster season. The cool crisp air encouraged the leaves of mighty oaks to begin its glorious transition. The trees were tall and graceful reaching effortlessly heavenward. The sun shone on the tips and tops of the trees creating magical images as the leaves softly swayed.
I came across a trail softly lined with yellow and red leaves and found a clearing down by the river with what appeared to be some pretty good “sitting rocks.” Upon taking my rock sitting position, I looked up into the trees to see the sun was glistening on these majestic creations. I wondered how long they had been there, who had also visited them, the view from way up there on the tippy top. They were incredibly beautiful and by the girth of their trunks they appeared incredibly strong.
As I got closer I noticed the roots, a large portion of the root structure was exposed due to the erosion of the soil around it. The roots were twisted, knotted and gnarled up and around and growing every which way. Rocks of every size and large pieces of wood and other tree roots were mangled all around the scarred roots. The roots clearly had to grow up, down, and around those obstacles in their root path in order for the tree to survive. Many obstacles were in the path of these tree roots, they couldn’t just easily grow in one direction. In order to keep growing and keep the tree alive the roots had to find new paths and new ways to keep going and growing. Deep down, below the surface the story revealed how difficult it was for this tree just to stay alive.
I thought of how people are like the patient and persistent roots of a mighty oak. At first glance some people may look as though life is easy for them, they must not have a care in the world that effortlessly they live and thrive but the reality is this people have go through a lot at times to just stay alive.
The truth of the matter is none of us get out of this world without having sticks and stones thrown our path. Growing and adapting are essential in thriving through adversity. Difficult times happen for all of us, life is impersonal that way. We all have our rocks and pieces of wood and other tree roots that get in our way in life. Challenges take on the form of chronic illness, divorce, financial struggles, children etc. The question is when these challenges get in our way, get in our path, how are we going to respond?
There are lessons to be learned in hard times. Mary Morrisey teaches “ Don’t make an agreement with struggle.” Square you shoulders, take a deep breath and grow. Every challenge is another opportunity for growth. We learn about ourselves, what we are capable of, strengths within us that we didn’t even know we had. Those adversities and how we respond to them can be the catalyst for future growth and joy or make victims of us, leading to lives unfulfilled, stagnant or unrealized. Often our greatest triumphs and treasured gifts are learned and earned in our darkest hours.
So take a lesson from the mighty oak, focus heavenward and grow no matter what it takes.
Oh and one more thing…..go sit on a rock, and I mean that in the nicest way.
Laurie
Ideal LifeVision
