This weekend I discovered the secret to true relaxation. It’s really quite simple – walk along a beach teeming with seashells. I experienced that firsthand on Sanibel Island this weekend . . .
It is virtually impossible to be stressed out while walking along a warm, sunny beach, feet dragging in the water. There’s nothing better than the sounds of the waves lapping ashore, skimming the seashells on the sand, causing them to gently clank together, shift and resettle as the water flows back into the ocean. This gently repetitive sound moves in sync with your inner rhythms, leaving you feeling completely content. It is as if the tranquil sound takes over any worrisome thoughts you may otherwise have. Sure there are a few children laughing in the background, but that only adds to the calming experience. You can breathe easier, deeper here while soaking it all in.
Walking along the shore, you meet the friendliest people, who share your love of shelling – grannies, young couples and kids, all in the best of moods. You just can’t be mad, sad or disturbed while walking along a beach.
My daughter poked fun at me for using a bright orange net to scoop shells up from the water. But my method proved to be successful. I was able to find some larger seashells while others nearby seemed frustrated while trying to sift through piles in the water. But in the end it’s not really about collecting the shells, rather just the excitement of the find. A perfect specimen with no chips or cracks, with a most beautifully interesting pattern ust waiting to be scooped up by you.
Contemplating the many mysteries of the sea is overwhelming in the most pleasant way. As I pull a gem of a shell from the water, I ponder its journey to the shore. (Stay with me here.) What happened to the animal inside? How many miles did it travel to get here? How many others are there like it in the world? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions? Billions? Or more than there are numbers to count? Do these creatures socialize with each other? What if I throw it back in, as far as I can? Will it ever wash ashore again? Maybe it will get caught in an undercurrent and get stuck in the sand forever, never to be seen again. Just how many seashells are on this beach anyway? How long did it take for the waves to finely crush this many shells to make this much sand? How many species are out there we have yet to discover? What is it really like under the surface of the water during the worst of storms?
In the evening as the dusk approaches, the sky turns into an ever-changing collage of colors and clouds, making an ideal backdrop for the silhouettes of people walking along the shore. You can’t see their faces any longer, but you just know they’re happy.
P.S. You just better get inside before the sand fleas feast on you for dinner.
