A Better You Blog

Images of waves hitting the sandy beach always bring a moment of respite for me. I take a deep breath and exhale. That familiar sound of the strong ocean current, the warmth of the sun on my face, and the windy, salty sea air refresh me immediately, and in just a moment, my whole mood is lifted. I’m a kid again. I squish the sand between my toes, and hunt for sandcrabs scurrying to hide before the next wave exposes them again. And I am free. Free to enjoy every moment, to find fun in everything, and to laugh about nothing.

My best memories of childhood are at the beach. It is where I could forget all my problems and realize there was someone greater than myself, that God was looking out for me and would bring me through all my trauma. It was a respite. We would camp for a week at a time at the beach, and I could hear the ocean 24 hours a day. Maybe that is why it has such power over me still today, instanty bringing me comfort. It was at the ocean where I learned God was bigger than my circumstances: if He could cause the moon to control the tides with such predictable precision, how much more could He carry me through my days? The ocean is where I learned to trust in God, and beach imagery continues to strengthen me to live courageous and free.

What image, setting, or event evokes this in you? Have you a way to find encouragement and get invigorated instantly? For me it is the beach and ocean setting. For you, perhaps a hike in the mountains, or a serene lake scene. What about shopping with friends, reading a good book, feeling the hum of a fast car floored (with the top down), playing a sport, or attending a ball game?

I have met many people who have such an inspiration but do not realize it. Life is a balancing act, and if yours seems out of balance, consider the cause. Are you constantly seeking to experience this motivating force that elludes you? Do others complain that you are “obsessed” with something, and are you wasting valuable time or money on it? Fun brings diversion from everyday monotony, but it is possible for anything to be done to the extreme.

I would love to live at the beach and wake up to its soothing effects each morning. Someday I will. For now, I value living here close to my husband’s family. Years ago I lived near the beach, and after moving away, I used to spend time daydreaming and feeling sorry for myself that I could not be at the ocean in a moment’s notice. I was living out of the moment, and wasting precious time. Now I recognize that each moment of life is valuable: what could I have done with that time? I do not want to waste a moment thinking the “grass is greener on the other side”, but rather make my life the best it can be now, here, today.

When my husband and I were trying to get pregnant, I had to go through fertility treatments at a clinic. We were able to get pregnant without the difficult “in vitro” fertilization techniques that are often necessary, but the medicine and testing still took months, and the side effects of the medicine and the treatment itself took both a physical and emotional toll. Faced with the possibility that I might never get pregnant, I needed to experience the beach and its strength, to feel God’s presence and power. So, for three months, almost every weekend, we left after school on Friday (I was teaching) and returned late Sunday night. These trips were planned last minute, and we usually ended up a few hours away at the beach (although we went hiking to the mountains some too). We had a lot of fun together taking spontaneous road trips, made some great memories together, and drew closer as we comforted each other in our time of stress.

I would not trade that time for anything, and we needed it. But now, as I face challenges and hurdles, it is not as practical to take a literal “escape”. My three children need some routine. Our money is better spent on extras for our family than expensive last minute hotel bills. Rather than a literal “escape” to my refuge, I am strengthened and find comfort in many areas of life, including play time with my children, and moments alone with my husband. Yet still, in my quiet devotion time with God, I often feel an embrace of strength as I imagine myself sitting on a rock, at the ocean, at a beach. There is a time for everything good, and a delicate balance to living courageous, happy, and free.

I am much happier this way. And I appreciate the beach even more, as infrequently as I see it in person, especially as I see my own children enjoying its magnificence. Balance is one key to a happy life. We all need encouragement, and we need to be conscious of what drives us. Let the past be an engine that fuels you on toward your goals, rather than a roadblock that hinders you from achieving in your future.

Welcome to my first post. I hope this blog helps every reader to leave here a better you,

Patricia