#1: BE STILL

PONCE INLET, FL

FEBRUARY 29TH, 2016

Today I was in a mood. I get like that sometimes. Whether it’s because of stress, or hormones, or lord knows. Whatever it is; I felt stuck. Currently I’m going through some changes at work, some changes with family life and I woke up this morning with an overwhelming sense of ennui.

So, I ran away.

Nowhere too drastic. I just decided to head over to the local beach about 45 minutes away that I’ve been going to my entire life.

I knew I needed to get away; so I did. I turned off my cell phone and pulled onto the highway. As I drove towards the ocean I instantly felt lighter and more at peace.

Growing up my dad used to take my little brother and I on “adventures.” They were always random hole in the wall places. Local parks, springs, museums, festivals, ect. Anywhere and everywhere to get us out and exploring our world.

So now, I’m constantly seeking out the next adventure. Obviously I crave a grand adventure to Europe or to my dream, the Greek Islands, but for now I’m satisfied with seeking out small adventures, little local places, that make me grateful to be apart of this world.

Today I’m at the beach, and it is impossible to be unhappy at the beach. It’s 72 degrees and sunny. There are some clouds overhead and the breeze has a chill to it, but it’s soft and I have sand in-between my toes.

Sunshine and sand. The simple things; those are the things that feed my soul. Those are the things that I need to seek out more.

Living today is hard. There is no other way around it. To get through you need to constantly be seeking out the moments that bring you unadulterated joy.

For me I’m starting to find I get that through “adventures.” Meeting new people, finding new places, and having new stories to write about. The more I learn about the world around me the more I learn about myself.

So, what did today’s adventure teach me?

It’s okay to run away sometimes. It’s okay to turn off your phone and go sit on a beach by yourself in the sun. Do what you need to do to get your mind right.

I grew up Catholic, and like many things in life I’m still a little unsure about the whole religion thing. But twelve years of Catholic school is going to have some effect and my favorite Bible verse is Psalm 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.” To me it means that when everything is going crazy, sometimes you just need to take a minute to be still and know that everything will be okay.

Every day is a gift and when it stops feeling like one it’s time to take a step back. Go outside and close your eyes. Feel the sun on your skin, or the rain, or the wind. Take a deep breath and just for a moment, be still.

-HW