The Stone and the River: A Reflection on Life’s Journey

As children, there’s a special kind of joy that only the simplicity of nature can offer. Amongst memories of our childhood creating more than ample provisions to make up such long recalls in the aggregate, most of us still remember our adventures on the river bank.

It wasn’t just about the water, or the breeze, or the shared laughter—it was the unspoken freedom we felt, the sense of being present at the moment Running along the edge of the river, with the sunlight glinting on the water, it seemed like the world belonged to us-even if only for that fleeting moment.

And then, almost without thinking, we'd bend down and pick up a stone. Maybe it was smooth or jagged, light or heavy—it didn't matter. It was an action born of instinct, born of nature. We'd wind up our arm and throw it into the river, and all we'd have been thinking was seeing it land with a splash. Strategy didn't enter that first throw; planning, not in the least. There was just pure, candid joy.

But something strange would happen after that first stone hit the water. Watching the ripples disappear, we felt a subtle want for ourselves. The next rock we picked up was no longer an isolated action. Instead, this time, there was a silent, unspoken objective: we wanted it to go further than the first one. Somewhere in our subconscious, we had constructed an aim to surpass what we had just done. The game was now no longer innocent and carefree. It challenged us and gave us a purpose.

This simple act of throwing stones into the river rings so much of what life is all about. For most of our lifetime, we are moving constantly without even knowing which way to go. In a nutshell, we just explore, experience, and enjoy, with no upper goal as such. It is more of a time when one is just basking on the journey, not knowing the larger picture.

But as we progress, as we begin to seek lessons that life can teach, we gradually conclude that there is indeed so much more to life than mere drifting. We begin to find our aim, or aim in the form of a dream, a career goal, or a personal ambition. And when we have our aim, we are no longer satisfied to just throw stones for the fun of it. Now, each stone we throw is invested with intention. We want to see it go further, make a bigger splash, be felt longer.

Life, just like that second stone, is a hunt to beat what we initially thought was our limit. The hustle develops the drive to do better, to be better. That first throw was for fun, but after that, every single throw forms part of the journey to achieving something more. We realize that we are still a little more capable than our initial expectations. Efforts become more focused, actions deliberate, and perhaps even shaped dreams.

And just like in that game that we would play with friends at the riverbank-where all of us kept tossing the stone trying to go further than the other guy, so life also comes with a bit of competition. This time though, it's not about competing with the fellow; it's actually about challenging one's self. See just how far one can push it, what one can accomplish, and how deep one can imprint. The real competition, however, is with ourselves-we we push ourselves past limitations and try to surpass what we thought was possible.

But there's beauty in this: just as with those stones we threw into the river, every move we make, every target we hit produces ripples. Those ripples spread beyond what we may ever be able to see, touch lives, impact people, and create change beyond all that was ever possessed by our conscious minds. We can't always even know that each small effort we pay forward adds up to something more.

Life is more than just reaching a destination. It is more about constantly challenging ourselves to throw that next stone farther than the last one, finding happiness in the hustle, embracing the struggle, and knowing that with each new throw, we're getting closer to discovering the depths of our potential.

So, as we reflect on this simple, yet profound act of throwing stones by the river, it begs the question:

• What was your first stone?
• What was that first aim you discovered that shifted your journey from carefree wandering to intentional living? And most importantly,
• How far are you willing to throw the next stone?

Remember, life isn’t just about the stones we throw—it’s about the ripples we create along the way.

Thanks & Regards Vishwanathan Ramchandran (V! Ram)