THE GAME OF STACKING ROCKS
That would be me. In case you were wondering who stacks those cool rock masterpieces on the beach. It’s one of my favorite California coastline pastimes. Why? Man vs. Nature - it’s the oldest game played by humanity, and great practice for life.
When I start stacking, I come in quite confidently. My first few rocks are always stacked solid, a steadfast foundation for all the others to come. “Look!” I say to no one in particular, “I have dominion over my domain.”
But with each precarious inch closer to the sun, I feel more like Icarus’s other inner voice, "Stop now while you're still having fun!"
I can’t though, I’m on a roll. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven. SEVEN! I encourage Rock No. 7 to get his shit together and make everyone proud. "Come on Rocko!" Unfortunately, each tumble is making it obvious that we’re not defying gravity this time either.
Eventually, the sun starts setting and the tide is coming in. It’s time to leave, time to give up, I’m done. While my five foot frame hasn't given my twenty foot ambition any leverage, the wind in my hair, the sound of my friends’ laughter, and my sense of healthy competition remind me that I’m alive and well.
WHEN IT ALL ENDS THE SAME
Since the dawn of time, Nature has determined the laws of space, time, and energy. These constraints ensure that we can never outdo, outsmart, or outlast Nature. Yet we humans continue to play this game knowing that there has only ever been one winner, and it's not us. Inevitably and indisputably. Nature wins.
In case that was too poetic, I mean… I can’t stay at the beach and stack rocks forever, and uh, "We’re all gonna die.”
It ends the same for all of us. No matter what we do. So the only thing you can control is how you choose to live, love, and leave.
In case you’ve forgotten how to do that, let me share my rock game with you.
HOW TO STACK ROCKS 101:
Channel your inner child - They’ll know what to do.
Choose your rocks carefully - Don’t pick Rock No. 7.
Choose your moves carefully - Watch your toes and get ready to dodge if not.
Get lost in the moment - Indulge your senses, turn off your mind, and just enjoy nothing in particular.
Take risks - Some are going to pay off. Others will land on your big toe.
Give it your best - Sometimes that’s all you need or can do.
Be kind to yourself - And all the other voices living in your head.
Lead with your heart, listen with your gut, and logic with your brain - You’ll find balance eventually.
Let go of the outcome - Even if you think you know what it is. Refer to point #4 for how.
Don’t take it too seriously - It’s just stacking rocks.
TAKING COMFORT IN THE METAPHOR
In the end, the game was never to beat Nature, but to co-create and shape a win-win game with Nature. While having a great frikken time. To everyone else, this game may seem pointless, even stupid.
But little do they know, I was playing “Stack Six Rocks.”
We clearly have another winner here.
Next time you’re at the beach, take a chance to play, and show me your favorite stack!
https://neal.fun/rocks/
I demand we stack rocks together at the end of this month.