We have all experienced hurt when others do not meet our expectations or do things that cause us to lose trust. This is like coming across a beautiful lake and jumping in only to realise that beneath the sparkling surface, the waters are muddy and we struggle to get out. A lot of us, when hurt like this, stop going into lakes and avoid them altogether. It is okay to be cautious when hurt. But rather than avoid lakes altogether, we learn not to cannonball in but to take small steps, first testing the water with a dip of the foot, then putting one foot in to carefully test the ground. Only when our foot finds firm ground, do we take another step in and another. With small steps, we can avoid getting into muddy lakes and discover what other lakes have to offer.
Lotus Pond by Tan Choh Tee