My gift from the sea

-By Lisa

Writers have long explored the connection between simplicity and the ocean; this idea is not likely to blow any literary socks off. 

But I was just at the beach and I write about simplicity so let’s just be OK with the redundancy. 

Perspective is a fascinating thing. The feeling of being blissfully small is never clearer to me than when I face the vastness of the ocean. And if I am that small, my troubles must be downright minuscule.  The salty air smells amazing and it gently reminds me to actually smell the air and really breathe it in. I can breathe in the interconnectedness and the natural rhythm of the place.

It’s not a huge shocker that in my old life (the highly complicated one with all it’s wheel spinning, cockeyed priorities and desperate desire to impress other people) I lived pretty close to the ocean and I never went.  I was a very busy person. 

But now Husband and I have made time to visit dear friends who live on the beach in North Carolina. I’m reminded of all the great things about a seaside existence, namely, slowing down and enjoying life.  

We did highly important things.  

Like feeding turtles.

 

Like cooking from a well-loved old cookbook. With a lot of butter. 

Like digging with our toes.

And when I was not doing those things, I was rereading one of my favorite books, Gift from the Sea. It’s a classic about simplicity by Anne Morrow Lindberg. She was a phenomenal writer, something that was (regrettably) somewhat overshadowed by her husband and his airplanes. Her advice is timeless, and her tone is kind and encouraging. I read it just before getting married and her thoughts on relationships, contentedness and simplification have stayed with me in the 5 years since. It seems that what worked 50 years ago is still relevant. 

Just like Anne Lindberg, I brought a shell back to my real life, to remind me of the simplicity and slowness I experienced at the ocean. It sits on my kitchen window sill and quietly tells me to remember that a simple existence is possible - regardless of my physical location. 

Many thanks to M & B for a lovely vacation. 

For more from Lisa, check out www.justherejustnow.com

Comments

[Dmcmillanaustin]

A lovely post, Dear Lisa!

[Simplifying the Simple Life]

So happy you enjoyed it --- thanks!
~L