Thanks for Giving

Searching for shells became a spiritual ritual.  

I was earthing, walking barefoot connecting with mother Earth and the elements.  I was surrounded by water, warmed by the fire of the sun and felt the wind blow on my face every day.  Sometimes cool, sometimes warm and sometimes so strong I thought I would blow away.  

I learned to shell with focused attention, I learned to pivot with the changes.  I picked up garbage that had washed ashore after a storm, giving back as I was receiving.  I noticed a little competitiveness in myself when others were on the beach shelling ahead of me! 

I also realized I was so focused that I kept my head down.  One day as I was walking off the beach a woman walking past me asked how the waves were.  I couldn’t tell her! That day I hadn’t even looked up.  I had kept my head down the entire time looking for different shells!  

From that point forward every time I found a shell I looked up at the ocean and said thank you.

I received so many gifts from shelling, I could go on and on but I think (I know) you get the point.  

Here was the greatest gift…I reflected on my walk with Leslie. 

When she found those different, harder to find shells it’s what transpired next that had the greatest impact on me.  When she found that first small conch shell, she leaned over, picked it up and without hesitation she said, “here, I want you to have this.”  When we were sitting in our chairs catching up and she saw an olive shell (that was right next to me, but I missed it!) again, she picked it up and without hesitation she gave it to me.  

That was the real gift, seeing how easily she gave me the different, harder to find shells.  I’m grateful and will remember to pay it forward.  

My wish for you all is that you feel the gift in giving. 

XOXO ~ beth