Something to ponder - Stone Skipping
Jonathan Creaghan has provided me with a series of articles on leadership, sales and time management. I will be running these articles periodically - so check in for updates.
Today Jonathan has provided us something to ponder, as the end of summer is in sight - Stone Skipping. When I was a young boy of about 10, my Dad took us camping in Michigan and I remember entering a stone skipping contest. He took me down to the beach for it. I came in 3rd. My Dad passed away last January at 83. This article made me think of him and that quiet moment of innocence.
There is great satisfaction when a
stone skips on forever across the water. One, two, three… ten, eleven…. until
all the skips come together, and the stones slides to a stop and sinks.
From where I stand on the beach the
water today is placid and perfect for one of my favorite childhood past
times: Stone Skipping!
Reconnecting with Youthful Joys
I haven’t skipped a stone in a few
years, this is a pity. I hope I never truly let go of childhood joys. In my
youth the goal of skipping stones was the number of skips per stone, the more
skips the better. I of course cannot remember my greatest number. Over 12 maybe,
my childhood self would say close to 20 skips, and I believed at the time that
strength and speed of the throw along with the proper weight and thickness of
the stone were the key.
Now I am not sure if strength and
speed are that important a part of the equation. The first few stones I skip this morning are
based on the muscle memory of childhood. Throw hard and watch the stone fly.
But I notice the tension in my arm and let it go. My body relaxes, and I shift
my focus onto something different than the goal of the number of skips. If thrown well, the stone will not hit the
water immediately, but soar through the air for a while, until landing
gracefully for its first touch. The angle of this touch will dictate how the
stone proceeds. Too sharp and the stone will sink too quickly.
Finding the Perfect Stone
As I continue my walk down the beach,
I find what I can only call, stone skippers heaven, hundreds of potential
moments of joy. I reach down and grab a stone from the pile, and feel an
instant connection with it. It is almost like it has been waiting for this
moment. It is mostly smooth with only a few pockmarks, and about as round as it
will ever be, the perfect specimen. I bounce it in my hands, letting it settle
between my fingers. This stone feels right.
The One Moment
I step down to the waters edge, the
waves lapping the beach softly. There is no breeze. The smell of the salt air
from the ocean is fresh.
My arm and body swing in one
continuous motion, the stone is released from my fingers and finds flight one,
two, three…. I stop counting and just
watch its progress. Its bounce is steady and fluid, even when it begins its
slide, it stays on the surface going and going.
For me the perfect throw.
I have no idea how many skips it
made, that doesn’t matter any more. The totality of the experience is what
counts. The discovery of the perfect stone, the angle of the throw, the beauty
that surrounds me, the way the stone softly hits the water, the correct amount
of tension in my arm, this is what I have thrown all those stones for this
morning….... To find that single moment.
How to Skip a Stone.
1.
Choose a smooth
flat stone of medium weight. Not too light that it’s at the wishes of the
water. Not too heavy that it’s hard to get momentum.
2.
Place the stone
between the thumb and index finger. It
should fit comfortably in the curve created between these two fingers. Ensure
the angle of the stone is slightly raised at the front.
3.
Stay relaxed and
throw the stone in a side arm pitch, letting your body curve down with the
angle and swing of your arm.
4.
Step into the
throw, and let it go allowing the stone to spin out of your fingers.
5.
One smooth fluid motion
with a clear head.
Jonathan Creaghan helps
clients transform themselves and their workplaces. He believes that businesses ultimately
succeed or fail because of the human factor.
He teaches people to think differently, to see reality with fresh eyes
when solving issues that impede them, whether personal or business. Jonathan provides “Solutions for the Human
Side of Business”. www.jonathancreaghan.com
Jonathan is the author of several books including Duxter’s Leap! and the Thinking Differently® Leadership series which includes Thinking Differently® about… Getting More Done. His books are published around the globe in several languages.
For more information on Jonathan Creaghan:
- 519.472.2562
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