why building sandcastles is like life

As the kids and I were building sandcastles, it made me think that, in a lot of ways, building them is like building a life. Here's what I mean:

• You have to start with a solid foundation.


• It's not something you want to do alone. It's more enjoyable and rewarding to do it with friends.


• Others may stop to marvel at it...but you know the truth...it could come crashing down at any moment.


• Collapses and cave-ins will happen. They're unavoidable. But...they're always a blessing in disguise. They show you where you need to be stronger. And after you rebuild that area of your castle, you're always better off. You'll be able to take it higher than before.


• Building a good one doesn't take a lot of skill. It just takes time. Persistence. Patience.
  
• A lot of people give up too soon when building. Or they bail after the first collapse figuring, "What's the use?" You have to fight through the difficulties.


• You're never really done building. There's always room for improvements, new features, and new heights.


• You have no control over how long it lasts. Your castle's life and longevity is in the hands of a greater power...in this case, the tide.