pine needle theory

Before me lays a sea of fallen pine needles, my destination (along with my shoes) just beyond. I have no choice but to walk through the millions of potential threats to my bare feet. I can only be so attentive to the way they lay in the sand, deciphering whether their positions are protrusive or submersible, before I quickly begin to look deranged to the other occupants of this beach. Although the chance of being splintered by a passive needle, especially with my watchful eye, is not very likely, a new emerging worry takes my thoughts; There is no way for myself to truly prevent that one strategically placed pine needle from splintering my foot. I must just carry on my journey without knowing just how satisfied my feet will feel at my ultimate destination. 

The pine needle theory serves as a metaphorical depiction of how, within our society of billions, we encounter the small fraction of truly meaningful people who shape our lives. We may often walk past, over, and through many passive “potential friends” as we embark on our individual journeys [of life]. Yet we can identify those wonderfully special few people that have splintered themselves deep under our skin. Were these specific outliers just protrusive needles laying among the sea of every other needle that has fallen from the pine tree? If I happened to step onto this covered ground an inch to my right, could I have made a new lifelong splinter? 

I reached my shoes un-punctured knowing very well that this wasn’t the last pine tree I’d encounter.