“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” ~Viktor Frankl

No grit, no pearl is a perfect metaphor for what we can do with pain. And, no one can deny “these challenging times” are painful. Because, as beautiful as they are, pearls are always the result of hurt. From an article in the Huffington Post, “It begins with an irritation — a piece of sand, shell or grit becomes lodged in the tender flesh of an oyster. In response, the oyster builds up layers of calcium carbonate around it which gradually becomes a pearl. A small pearl takes around 2-3 years to grow, a large one, closer to 10.” Wow, now there’s a gem. Big hurt+long time=big pearl.

Often, it’s only when we look back on painful experiences that we see the profound, meaningful growth difficult times have brought about. You may develop a greatly increased ability to cope with hardship, deepen your compassion and have more empathy for others. These are all pearls of great value. What a powerful message for life! Painful circumstances can create a thing of beauty. Read more…