From a Grain of Sand

The oyster gets one tiny grain of sand inside the shell and that grain of sand then irritates the soft, velvety interior of the oyster; to stop the uncomfortable invasion the oyster starts to cover the grain of sand with a smooth coating.  Turning this intrusive grain into one of the world´s precious stones; something wonderful is caused by the oyster having something happen to it, which caused it discomfort, then finding a way to make it better for itself and for others as well.

Does this sound like something we all do to?  When life gives us something that makes us uncomfortable, we find a way to feel better. We look at ways to smooth it over and get on with our life.  This often causes some sort of changes for us and within us.  As time passes we can look back and see that where we are now, is because of all the uncomfortable situations have caused us to be stronger, learn more and become who we are.  No pearls are the same, no people are the same, no two experiences are the same, but something good can always come of each and every one.

The pearl does not form over night or in a hurry, we do not develop in a hurry either.  This world in now run on speed, fast food, fast communications, fast marriages and quickie divorces, you can even get a degree in 4 weeks on the internet….well to be honest there is not much that you cannot get on the internet!!! Are they worth what they seem to be worth?  We all know that fast food is the world´s worst food nutritionally and for our health, but they are still one of the biggest growth industries on the planet, so we really do not always do what we know is good for us.

This last week I finally managed to catch up with a friend that I have not seen for a while, we sat and chatted for five and a half hours.  It only stopped then because the bar owner wanted to go home!!!  A comfortable chair, in front of a roaring fire, good friend and a bottle or two of vino how great is that!! So why do we leave things that give us great pleasure to the bottom of our own TO DO lists?  We get so wound up in the irritants of life, dealing with things we seem to feel guilty when we have some “pleasure” time.  Mind you the head was not so pleasurable the next day……but it was worth it!!!

On Sunday I got up to a sun filled day with blue skies, it is a definite feel good factor.  I spent the day doing jobs in the house and in the garden again for one reason or another had been left for a while, but every hour or so I stopped made a cuppa and sat and  really looked at my surroundings, we often take people and things for granted,. This week I have rediscovered the pleasure of friendship, the gratitude of what I have and the life I lead.  How easy it has been to get involved in  or focused on the pain or discomfort that life does give us and lose sight of all the good things, all of us are making pearls but at times all we see are the grains of sand.