Finding Life in Stone

August 12, 2025 - Sometimes life feels heavy and we are weighed down by our challenges. As if we will metaphorically turn to stone if we don't keep pressing forward. This hike has definitely felt like that. Although there is only about 1,000 change in elevation from top to bottom, some of the inclines are close to 17 degrees! Now that is a hike.

What do we do when we feel we might turn into stone if we change the pace of our daily routine?

1. Slow down. As King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon teaches, Don't "run [walk, crawl, etc] faster than you have strength."

2. When you take a break, make it meaningful. It calms my spirit to sit outside (without my phone) and listen to the birds and the wind in the trees. But a meaningful break can also look like folding the laundry and unloading the dishwasher.

3. Call or text a friend. One day I was feeling sorry for myself and decided to send out some love and gratitude to 10 friends. It took the focus off my misery and added joy to others.

4. Stones, of themselves, are beautiful. In a similar way, your rough edges add to our beauty and experience. Embrace them as much as the smooth parts.

5. Don't be afraid of stones in your life. While it's true that "a rolling stone gathers no moss," it's equally accurate that "great gaps are filled with small stones" (Dutch proverb).

Let life shape you into a more beautiful version of yourself, but never let it define you. Stones will come, but you don't need to become one.