Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never

Host: The light of the late afternoon spilled through the café windows, casting long, golden rays across the table where Jack and Jeeny sat. Outside, the world seemed to slow, but inside, the energy of the conversation had picked up. Jack had been quiet for a while, his mug of coffee almost untouched, his mind clearly elsewhere. Jeeny noticed his distant look, sensing that something was weighing on him.

Host: Finally, Jack spoke, his voice soft, but filled with a kind of quiet contemplation.

Jack: “I came across this quote today by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. She said, ‘Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.’ It made me think about life, about the struggles we face. It’s like... we try to protect ourselves from the hard things, but maybe those very difficulties are what shape us, give us depth. What do you think?”

Jeeny’s eyes softened, and she leaned in slightly, clearly drawn to the idea. She took a slow sip of her coffee before responding, her voice quiet but thoughtful.

Jeeny: “I think she’s saying that hardship is a natural part of growth. Much like the canyons — the winds and storms shape them, carve them, and give them the beauty that we see. Without the struggles, they wouldn’t have the same depth, the same character. Life is the same way. We can’t avoid difficulty or pain if we want to truly experience the richness of what life has to offer.”

Host: Jack looked down at his cup, his fingers absently tracing the rim. He seemed to be processing her words, his thoughts moving slowly, like they were trying to fit together in his mind.

Jack: “But it’s hard, right? I mean, sometimes we want to shield ourselves from the storms, from the pain. We don’t want to go through the hard things, because it hurts. It feels like a kind of protection from the chaos of life.”

Jeeny’s eyes softened with understanding, and she set her cup down gently, her voice steady and reassuring.

Jeeny: “It is hard. And it’s okay to want to protect yourself, to seek comfort. But the truth is, those difficult moments — the ones that challenge us the most — are the ones that teach us the most about who we are, about what we’re capable of. The storms of life, while painful, bring with them the opportunity for growth, for change. It’s in those moments that we become more than we were before, just like the canyons are shaped by the winds.”

Host: The café, once busy with the sounds of conversation and laughter, seemed quieter now, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. Jack seemed to absorb her words, a thoughtful expression settling on his face.

Jack: “So, you’re saying that it’s not about avoiding the pain, but about learning to move through it? That the beauty comes from what we become because of the struggles we face?”

Jeeny nodded, her smile soft but full of quiet understanding.

Jeeny: “Yes. The beauty comes not in being free from pain, but in how we carry it with us, how it shapes us, how we emerge from it stronger, more resilient. Just like the canyons, our most beautiful moments of growth often come from the most difficult storms we face.”

Host: Jack’s expression softened, the quiet tension that had been present at the beginning of their conversation slowly easing. He sat back, his gaze drifting out the window for a moment, as if reflecting on the broader truth they had uncovered together.

Jack: “I guess that’s the thing, isn’t it? Life’s not about avoiding the storms — it’s about how we weather them, how we let them change us. Maybe that’s where the real beauty comes from.”

Jeeny smiled, a gentle but knowing smile, her eyes bright with understanding.

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about trusting that the challenges, the storms, are part of the process. They’re what make us who we are. And when we can embrace that, we can see the beauty in the shaping, in the becoming.”

Host: The conversation lingered in the air, the words between them like a quiet revelation. The café around them felt a little warmer now, the understanding they had shared creating a sense of peace, as though the storms they had discussed had already passed. The realization settled in — life’s true beauty often comes not from avoiding hardship, but from embracing it, learning from it, and finding growth in the most unexpected places.