I find the underneath side of things, the guts that make it all happen, very fascinating. We take so much for granted when we only look at the surface. Looking at the outside of things only allows us to guess what is really going on behind the scenes. These shapes are the inside of a hen house egg processing conveyor belt. They are the pieces that hold each egg so it does not break while in process and under transport. We found them in an abandoned chicken farm near our property. When we found them I stood there and thought about all the people it takes to process eggs, clean them, pack them and ship them. And I thought about all the people who would be fed by the eggs – the wonderful delights and the delectable meals people would enjoy due to the eggs. And I though about all the people who had to create a different life when this chicken farm closed. 

I then thought about what people are able to see about me, the real me behind the scenes. The parts of myself I only show a select few. We all have layers and layers and versions of ourselves that people know or don’t know. We have parts we share and parts that stay hidden. We have infrastructure that make up who we are, and usually only a few people REALLY want to see those parts. These are our guiding principles, our values and our beliefs that may contradict or disagree with those of others. We keep them safe and rely on them heavily, only sharing them with those we trust. These elements of our true selves reveal our core. They influence everything we do and who we have become. They guide the decisions we make and impact our very soul. 

Like the inside of this egg conveyor belt, our inner selves keep us safe in good and bad times, and during transport to becoming a better version of ourselves. They secure our true selves by protecting us and sustains us as we live life’s journey. Like the employee’s worlds that were shattered when the chicken plant closed, if we do not protect our insfrastructure we risk tearing apart everything we have. 

When I saw these, I also thought of the people who serviced the machine and knew it inside and out. A few people know me well enough to help me adjust and find service when I need a tune up. They know just where to poke and prod, what to tighten and what to unleash in order to bring out the better me. They see my insides and rejoice in making me run stronger and more efficiently. 

Who knows what you look underneath it all? Who understands what keeps you going and what you value? Who has seen into your very soul and helps you make it a better place? I hope you have one person, if not more, that help you become a better version of yourself. And I hope you are able to schedule tune up sessions and keep you running at your highest level.