I could feel it in my bones.
The need nagging in the back of my mind.
At first I couldn't put my finger on it.
It was just an unsettled feeling. Waking up scowling and gretsy. In the mood, not necessarily to start a fight, but to definitely finish one.
Then one beautiful Saturday morning your words floated ever so gently to my ears - "Would you like to go to the beach today?"
That was it.
That's what I was missing in my life.
I had been away too long.
"Yes!" I replied.
While my verbal answer was enthusiastic but simple, my mind had already set in motion my day.
And I couldn't wait.
If I could teleport myself, I would've, but I can't. So a car ride was necessary.
The Indian Summer weather allowed a drive with the windows down, radio blasting, and us speeding down the highway.
It didn't matter that we were technically heading away from the sunshine, I was heading towards the calming effect of the ocean. Overcast skies be damned, I was on my way.
It never ceases to amaze me how my mind, body and spirit react to the ocean and beach. The moment I can smell the salt marshes something in my mind clicks "home." I can feel the tension ease and the excitement mount. And it doesn't even have to be at that particular beach. It seems that the scent of salt water is the trigger.
Once my feet hit the sand it truly feels like every step I make towards the ocean is a step further away from the stress and tension I had been holding in my body. Almost like when I actually reach the water all the negativity will be washed away.
Small waves rolling over my toes bringing in the good and then sucking back out into the deep blue all the negative.
We laid out our blanket and parked ourselves on it.
The sun was hiding behind the approaching storm on the horizon, but I didn't care.
It's never been all about the sun and I do love to laze about on a beach soaking up the rays.
For me it's all about standing on the edge of the world and staring out over the ocean. Listening to waves washing up on the shore. Listening to the seagulls flying overhead. Seeing the dolphins play further out. Feeling the water wash up upon my feet and ankles.
It's calming to me. It takes away the "rawr" in my life and replaces it with something more zen-like.
Now, several days later, I still find myself able to center myself as I think of our little trip away from it all.
I feel myself relax and smile.I can still faintly smell the water and almost feel the grit of sand on my feet even though they are encased in shoes today.
When they say "Life is Good" I really think they mean at the beach.
