Beach Day - January

Today was a day I could barely wait for it to be over. I felt like I was hitting a wall. I had gotten a paper-cut on my right hand finger. I was outside weeding some of the woody type of weeds growing around and ended up with a splinter on my left hand thumb. I came inside and was carrying loaded laundry baskets and ran into the table and now have a brand new bruise on my thigh. I was making lunch and banged my head on the range over my stove. I was a wreck today. I was about to hole myself up in the closet and never come out.
Instead I left the house. I drove the 20 min to my favorite beach. I arrived in the parking lot feeling all churned up inside. I wanted to scream my aggression, fear and sadness away. However, the few people around might think something is wrong...so I didn't.
My views from the parking lot was like this. I felt like a storm was coming. I couldn't enjoy what my eyes were showing me and their image was transformed into something dark and ominous.

I kept watching the waves. I listened to the sounds of the water and the gulls calling to each other. 

I soon started to see a little clearer. 

I started to really enjoy myself.

I buried my toes letting the sand scrub away dark thoughts.

 I watched the birds. This one esp. He was further out and I did not get a good pic of this pelican but he dove and dove until he was satisfied with his catch and off he went. He never gave up and worked until he was satisfied. A good lesson. Pelicans are quickly becoming my favorite birds. 

And I walked. It is amazing to me how the sand that is closest to the water is firmer. This is the sand that takes the thrashing of the waves. This is the sand that can be washed away with one wave and yet it is the sturdiest. The sand that is dry and doesn't get covered in the water unless we have a huge storm, is the sand that gives way under your feet. This is the sand that moves with the wind. 

The beach is rewarding.

This crab leg was left behind as I got closer to a seagull. I liked it artistically. It drew my eye. 

I love looking at the footprints left behind. It is art. It can not be found in a man made museum but in God's museum. 

All those little shells I call sea glitter. Pretty little pieces of the sea. 

Guess what I found besides peace of mind. 

I love sand dollars. I love the whole unbroken ones and I have a special place in my heart for the broken dollars as well. Yet I always get that excited skip in my heart when I spy a sand dollar. 

I got my feet wet. In January I can roll up my pants and dip my toes into the Gulf of Mexico. 

I sat and relaxed. I don't know how long I sat. That did not matter. I let my mind and body rule not the clock. I let my mind slowly sort through the chaos that reigns over my daily thoughts. I let go of somethings I can't change and embraced who I am.

I think it is important to have time to yourself. I think it is important to remember who you are.

I also read. I love reading at the beach. There is something better about reading at the beach than in a bookstore or even at home. The waves seem to help rocket you into the world on those pages. Reading is so wonderful and reading at my favorite place is even more wonderful. 

I needed today.

I needed the beach.