I love the diversity of interests I see at the beach in the Fall. It looks like everyone is doing their best thing. Their favorite thing.
For some it involves standing on a long flat board wearing a wet suit and pushing at the sea with a paddle. They look like they’re having fun.
For some it involves laying fully clothed on a blanket and making space for the suns rays to warm them. They look they’re having fun too.
For others it involves digging holes in the sand and watching them fill with the incoming tides. Or throwing a ball to a dog countless times across the sand. They also look like they’re having fun.
So, why was it hard for me to do my best thing at the beach today? Why this self-consciousness? Wasn’t my best thing as worthy as theirs? I walked to the waters edge and started practicing qui gong. As I moved, I was met with waves of self-consciousness and had to let that go. Then I realized I was showing off, performing for anyone who might be watching. So I had to let that go too. When I started to really practice, I found I wasn’t self-conscious or show-offy at all. I was just having fun, doing my favorite thing.
Plum Island at Sunrise