Discovering New Paths (Jodi Moore)
Ever since I was a child, the beach has been my happy place. As I’ve grown older, it’s become more than that. It’s my place to take a breath. To reset. To reconnect with me.
I could easily sit all day, luxuriating in this sensory world. Listening to the waves. Inhaling the salty air. Sinking my toes into the warm sand.
On lucky occasions, I did, photographing the birds as the sun painted the sky different shades of splendiferous.
You see, while I grew up in south Jersey – only an hour away from the shore – now I live 5 hours away in PA. Again, not usually a huge problem until...
Enter the pandemic.
Like most, we worked to find a new normal, while keeping our loved ones – and ourselves – safe. While we used to travel (mostly for work) on a weekly basis, we’ve become homebodies. My husband and I learned to conduct workshops and school visits via Zoom. We formed a ‘quaranteam’ so we could see our (grown) sons and their girlfriends. We played games and put together a ton of puzzles.
To feed my body, I learned new recipes. To feed my soul, I took illustration classes. But as spring blossomed into summer, the walls began closing in. My heart ached for the beach.
“Can’t we just squeeze in one teensy trip?” my heart begged.
“Sorry,” my brain answered. “We are in a pandemic and can’t travel.”
Then, one day while on a walk, my heart noticed a nature trail and began thrumming.
Immediately, my brain launched into a full dissertation on the issues of tics, snakes, mountain lions...
“Sorry,” my heart quipped in a tone that dripped of sarcasm. “We’re going in.”
And we did.
Even my brain had to admit it was glorious. Listening to the bird calls. Inhaling the fragrant air.
Watching the colors flutter by.
We’ve been back almost every day since, watching the seasons paint the leaves a different shade of splendiferous.
No, it’s not the beach. But it is spectacular. It’s a new place for me to take a breath. To reset. And yes, to connect to me.
What new path will you find today?
What is it about the water that's so...healing, almost??? Love that you've found a new place...
ReplyDeleteIt is, isn't it? Thanks, Holly! xoxo
ReplyDeleteNicely done. I spent 7 hours in the woods today on our old family farm. Had to layer as it was in the low 40s with a stiff wind and I picked off three deer ticks, but it was worth every shiver and bug.
ReplyDeleteOh...deer! ;-) Glad it was all worth it. I worried about tics at first too, but the allure was something I just couldn't ignore. Thanks for your sweet comment! xoxo
DeleteYes! There's something about knowing the ocean is as old as the planet that soothes me. We've been taking the 4WD vehicle out to the beach where it's not crowded. I take a blanket with me and still go out, even in November!
ReplyDeleteOh!How wonderful! I wish we lived close enough to do that. Hug your beach for me, will you? ;-) xoxo
ReplyDeleteI will forever visualize the pandemic as looking like that little out of sorts fella.LOL!
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