Never Let Go

Chapter 70: Skipping Stones

The chill of the morning air sent a gentle shiver down my spine as I strolled toward the lake and gazed out at the trees on the other side.

As I approached the water a couple of smooth stones caught my eye. I picked one up and gripped it carefully, and gave a slow practice swing. And then I launched that perfect stone as close to parallel to the water as I could.

One... two... three... four... I counted. A successful skip. Ripples formed ever-widening rings on the once-still surface of the water. The stone skimmed the surface and was swallowed up by the lake. I stood there for a moment before launching a few more rocks in a vain attempt to replicate the successful first.

I hold the last stone and stare at it. It's not a perfectly smooth one like the last one. The rougher the stone, the bigger the splash. I suddenly have an idea and begin to think of skipping stones as a metaphor for life. No two stones are exactly alike. Some rocks are big, and some are small. Some rocks are smooth, while others are rough and jagged.

Similarly, life acts upon each of us through our experiences. Successes and failures. Lessons learned and lessons repeated. Unlike the stones, however, we have a choice to make. Every experience can either make us rough and jagged, or smooth and polished.

Anyone who has ever tried skipping stones knows that not all stones skip very well. Each time a stone touches the water it stirs up ripples. Every action of ours, whether we recognize it or not, affects us and the lives of other people. We will always make waves, but we have a choice to make them a positive force, or a negative one.

Life is messy. We all start out pretty rough. But, as we grow and mature, we learn from our experiences, the good, and the bad. And eventually some of those rough edges start to smooth over, just like the stones that have changed shape over the course of many, many years through the elements and mankind, giving each stone individuality. We all have a different path on this planet, and the stones of our life are forever changing shape and smoothing out.

I launch the stone with my flick-of-the-wrist technique, but this one wasn't as successful. It makes two big splashes before sinking into the depths of the lake, and once again I become mesmerised by the many ripples.

"You need to work on your technique!" Maya calls out.

I turn around and look back at her. She's sat under the tree, resting against the trunk with a notebook and pen in her hand.

"Good effort, though." She smirks.

I smile and bite my bottom lip, shaking my head at her sarcastic remark.

"You think you can do better?" I retort as I make my way over to her.

"Probably." She shrugs as she writes something down.

"Mmm, right. I didn't realise you were a professional stone skipper."

"I don't really like to brag about it, but..."

"Ok." I laugh softly. "Then I challenge you to a game, and we'll see who the professional really is."

"Challenge accepted." She smiles.

I watch her as she writes in her notebook, and I curiously move my head up, trying to get a look at what she's doing.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Writing."

I smirk and roll my eyes.

"What are you writing?"

"A bucket list."

"Oh?" I lower my eyebrows.

She moves closer to me, leaning her shoulder on to mine.