“So what? Why do I persist in allowing this ‘fear’ to hinder my happiness? I am afraid of the possibility of getting hurt. So what if I do get hurt? Haven’t I endured and survived physical and emotional pain in the past? Do people avoid going to the doctor just because they are scared the Doctor might uncover an issue? What kind of logic does that follow? Do I let… NO, push someone out of my life because I’m anxious about potential emotional pain? What if I don’t end up hurt? What if I miss out on what I truly desire? Consider an oyster for a moment; it may appear rough on the outside, but with the introduction of a tiny grain of sand, something incredible can happen. That minuscule grain of sand transforms into a beautiful pearl. I see myself as that rugged oyster, yet if I let a little grain of sand in, I could witness an amazing transformation. It’s time to gain perspective, Charlene. So what if you don’t allow that grain of sand in? You’ll never give the pearl the chance to develop.”