Irritating

Pearls are the result of an oyster overcoming an irritation. A piece of foreign matter is somehow introduced to the inside of the shell where it begins irritating the oyster and until the oyster takes action, the irritation continues. The oyster begins the slow continuous process of covering the irritant with nacre, which is the substance that covers the inside of the oyster shell. Over time and with consistent effort, the oyster turns the irritant into a pearl. As the oyster grows the pearl grows. The oyster would surely expel the irritant if it were able, but since it cannot it is forced to make the best of the irritating situation or go oyster-crazy. Some of the most beautiful and elegant jewelry ever made consist of pearls, which began their existence as an irritant.

The same can be said about some people and situations in personal and professional life. They are irritating. The irritation typically begins as a rather small matter but often grows into a monster of an issue because it goes ignored, often because of the desire to avoid confrontation. The value judgment starts to come into play because of the irritation and decisions are made that are intended to eliminate the irritation rather than round the irritating corners off and perhaps develop a pearl of an outcome.

There are going to be times when things and people that are beyond your control pop up and begin to irritate you. These are the opportunities to take an irritant and gradually smooth out the cutting surfaces and create a smooth pearl of an outcome. Consider irritants as opportunities, otherwise you may become one yourself.