LA MER

My mom and I went to the beach at the end of August, which was really exciting because it was the first trip she and I took together since my dad passed away. The day we left for the beach actually marked the 1 month anniversary of his passing, and to be honest, the trip (which we planned last-minute) really felt like “Divine Timing.”

We both needed to get away, rest, and recharge.

As I was lying on the beach, sun-kissed, with the sounds of waves, seagulls, chatter and laughter in the background, I was lulled into an incredibly relaxed state. While in this semi-meditative state, I began thanking the universe for everything and everyone I have in my life.

freckles. creativity. kindness. love. my mom. family. friends. passion. freedom. choice. mobility. shelter. income. imagination. laughter. humility. good health. vibrancy.

It really helped me begin to release negative emotions that I’d been holding onto that were consequently weighing me down. As I mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts, in times of difficulty/tragedy, it can be really hard to tap into feelings of thankfulness and gratitude. It’s much easier to focus that energy on feeling overwhelmed, sad, upset, etc. because at that time, that’s the most prominent feeling.

On the car ride home from the beach I asked my mom what her favorite part about life is. Perhaps that’s a bit of a complex question that can’t be answered so easily, but surely everyone has something (or a few things) that make them feel connected to and thankful for this human experience.

I’d have to say that all of life’s “plot twists” (although incredibly infuriating at the time, and not something I understand the significance of until later) is something I’ve come to appreciate. When I think about where I am in life and what I’ve accomplished… well, I didn’t plan any of it - it just happened. I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be, and the experiences I’m having now are preparing me for my next set of lessons and blessings. I always wish I had a sneak peek of things to come, but I know that whatever is around the corner is meant for me to learn and grow from. Sometimes I do have difficulty with maintaining that mindset, but I’m trying to shift my thought pattern to a more positive one, where I’m not dissecting every detail of my life, and instead just letting things flow.

Visiting the beach was incredibly healing for me - the ocean is so powerful but also quite magical. I’m happy that I was able to have kind of a spiritual experience there, and I’m looking forward to returning next summer. I’m also very thankful to have been surrounded by my family. We always get through our darkest times with love and laughter.