The Ripple Effect

It hit me on July 3rd while watching Tanner skip stones on the beautiful, pristine waters of Blue Lake. The Ripple Effect.

Tanner with the grace of a dancer and the arm of a ball player released stone after stone into the water. The rock would hit the surface, bounce, hit the surface again, bounce again, and eventually find its way to the bottom of the lake.

With each tap of the surface it left behind a wake, one ripple followed by another and another. The ripples exceeding the size of the rock exponentially. I’ve watched Tanner skip rocks thousands of times, but this time it hit me – the beauty of the ripples and the impact it had on the “world” around it.

In that moment I was brought back to my grocery shopping trip from a few days prior. As I pulled into the parking spot, I realized that two carts had been left behind by other shoppers. I could have ignored them like I have time and time before, but I didn’t.

Since the accident and Rylie’s passing, I’ve felt compelled to make concerted efforts to impact the world around me in a more positive manner. So I decided to bring them both to the cart corral INSIDE the store, not just the closest outdoor one. As I walked into the store I thought about how little effort that act took. Perhaps going the extra mile to bring the carts into the store may have made someone’s job a little easier.

Much like the stone thrown into Blue Lake caused other ripples to spread through the water, maybe my one kind act would cause someone else to do something simple and easy for someone else…

As I continued to watch Tanner skip stones, I couldn’t help but be in awe of his skill and adaptation. He was standing on a cliff of sorts, probably 10 feet above the surface, which is not his typical beachside location.

The difficulty of his unfamiliar position didn’t even seem to phase him. He simply adjusted his technique after a few not-so-great throws and continued to create ripple after ripple. I watched these ripples and couldn’t help but think how lucky I am to learn from BOTH of my kids.

We’ve been dealt a rough hand. We’re no longer standing safely on the beach. We’re 10 feet up with rocks that aren’t quite perfect for skipping. But that doesn’t have to, nor will it, stop us. It just requires a shift in technique.

With Rylie in my heart and Tanner as inspiration, I realized that I have the potential to impact the world around me exponentially. I’m learning that there’s no need for grandiose acts that require me to rewire my whole being. It’s just a simple act (a slight technique adjustment) that may spur another simple act.

This is the way that Rylie thought and acted. This is the way Tanner responded to the challenge and the beauty around him. Both she and Tanner are transforming me.

Imagine the power of the Ripple Effect… Let’s all just go one little extra step and impact each other in some small way.