The other day my family went to crack fossils in Fort Steele B.C. A very large deposit of trilobites has been found in the Fort Steele area, and a fossil hunter brings the rocks into Fort Steele for cracking, discovery and analysis. For a small fee, you can crack a rock that contains a trilobite fossil. If it is a rare one, it is kept for study, and you are sent home with a common sample. If the fossil you crack is common, you go home with the fossil you cracked. It is a fun, “unearthing the past” activity and it helps the discovery go faster. Everyone wins!
On the particular day we were there, the fossil hunter himself, was onsite, and he brought with him a new bag of rocks for cracking. He explained what he sees when he looks at a rock, and how he hopes, by what the outside looks like, for treasures on the inside. He cracked a few and found neat things, but they weren’t at all what he thought was in there. Isn’t it interesting–you can’t judge a book by its cover, you cant judge a fossil treasure by its rock exterior, and you can’t judge a person by their role playing, default face.
This fossil hunter didn’t get disappointed and give up when the fossils were not as he expected, or chastise himself for choosing the “wrong rock”. His childlike enthusiasm and belief in the possibility, kept him moving, smiling and hoping. And his enthusiasm was infectious!!
So what happens for you when you get disappointed? Do you give up and make a rule “not to do that again”, “you did it wrong” or does your enthusiasm, hope and belief in SOMETHING carry you through and buoy others as well? Do you abandon yourself, or do you stay afloat?
