Reflect

The heartaches, losses, disappointments, and experiences of life can harden us. When we become certain about life and people, our perspective constricts rather than expands. A Chinese proverb reminds us that it doesn’t take much to divert us from whatever we seek: “It is not the size of the mountain that obstructs our way. It is the pebble in your shoe.” Life can feel like a mountain we’re climbing, but the mountain is not likely the challenge. It’s that thing you’re lugging along — a pebble you knowingly or unknowingly picked up along the way. Maybe it once served a purpose, but now its purpose is complete. Maybe it still needs your attention so you can move forward. When we address the pebbles in our shoes, we are able to respond to our lives with greater openness.