I had the great gift of spending last week in Aruba, one of my favorite spots in the world, and always one of the best weeks of my year, a time of relaxation and restoration.
Every morning I can’t wait to get out on the beach and walk, and walk, and walk. It’s truly my happy place.
Fortunately I was still able to make the trip in 2013 and 2012, but since both trips followed within a month or two after surgeries, my activities were kept to a minimum, essentially walking to the lounge chair at the pool (not that I’m complaining about that). I highly recommend a good lounge chair by the pool when recovering from anything. But my morning beach walks were definitely out of the question.
This year I came back with abandon, covering miles every morning and relishing every single second.
I snapped some photos, did some cartwheels, and twirled a little. I find it’s always nice to throw in a twirl, don’t you?
As I walked I began pausing to write a word in the sand now and then. Random words that popped in my head. Words are powerful. Especially the ones we use with ourselves.
By the third morning it became somewhat of a game. As I covered the miles of sandy white beach, I’d leave simple ephemeral messages in my wake.
Perhaps someone on their morning trek would encounter just the word they needed to hear that day. Or maybe the ocean would erase them quickly leaving only wet sand and broken shells, and the words would go unseen.
No matter. Goodness, even if no one’s watching, is still goodness. And I intend to bring more of that into this world.
And then sometimes, just leave something behind that’s keeps them guessing.
