When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.
(Henry Ford)
Are you feeling drained? Do you feel like the whole world is conspiring against you?
Say it out loud. Shout it, “I’m not defeated!” Challenges strengthen you if you don’t give up. Deal with the critical things. Don’t let the urgent issues cause you to take your eyes off what really matters.
You’ll get there. You’re not alone. Press on! Great things don’t happen overnight. Crossing difficult terrain is part and parcel of growing up. You’re the one who chooses what breaks you. What cannot break you will build you up.
Don’t give in so easily, especially when you know you’re on to something that’s worthwhile. Take a break. Pause. Reflect. Take stock. Lend a helping hand to someone. That may take your mind off your immediate issue and you’ll see better from a different perspective.
Things that you cannot do anything about will likely resolve itself. Issues that need to be dealt with will look better once you’re more rested. Or admit it. You need help. It’s ok. There is no shame in that. It’s better than to live in fear. Cheer up. You’re alive!
There is still hope. Talk to someone or just take your pet dog for a walk. Feel the wind blow against your face. It’s free, it’s refreshing.
When you’re feel less stressed, you’ll be better equipped to handle whatever needs to be sorted out. Remember, the airplane takes off against the wind. The answer may not be what everyone thinks it to be. There will be breakthrough. Enjoy the ride!
Artist: Lydia C. Text: Anna G.
The Two Pebbles
Many years ago in a small Italian town, a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchant’s beautiful daughter, so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant’s debt if he could marry the daughter.
Both the merchant and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender’s wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the merchant’s garden. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her pebble from the bag.
The girl put her hand into the bag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
“Oh, how clumsy of me,”she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”
Sometimes it is necessary to think out of the box or, in this case, out of the bag.
