When we wore a heart of stone, we wandered to the sea
Hoping to find some comfort there, yearning to feel free
...
And we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
Yes, we were drawn to the rhythm
Drawn into the rhythm of the sea
 
~ Sarah McLachlan
 
 
 
I had planned on doing a bike ride this morning, but when I woke up, the ocean was calling me.
 
There are many things to be grateful for these days, and much to celebrate in the way of being employed again and loving my job. But on the flip side of that glory, I've been feeling a lot of heavy sadness lately over some other matters of the heart—one of which is missing my family and realizing that a trip home for the holidays is out this year. (It's not about plane tickets - it's that I don't have paid leave at this job and can't miss that many days without pay)
 
One thing I miss about living in Santa Barbara is the instant access to the ocean that I had, whenever I needed it. On a rough day, I could always escape to the beach like a child running to its parent for comfort and get lost in exploring the tidal pools and watching the seagulls and dolphins swimming offshore...and let the lull of the waves and the ocean wind soothe and rejuvenate. These days, I have a mountain range between me and the Pacific, but it's a lovely drive crossing them, and only a little over an hour.
 
So today, I made it to the coast just as the fog lifted and let the sun splash down the beach making sun diamonds on the water and burning hot through the strong, cool ocean winds...
 

 
 
And I saw all kinds of interesting things along the way - some I've never noticed before like tiny, rice-sized fish (I think they were fish) that would swim in huge schools through the receding waves and then burrow into the sand once the water had completely washed away. I also saw some sort of sea critter that looked just like a light-colored earthworm that would also wriggle around in the receding water and then burrow under the sand when the water was gone. One of the cutest things I saw was when a couple of the seagulls would stop in one spot and start digging quickly with their little webbed feet for food. It looked like they were running in place or doing the Moonwalk!
 


 
There were pieces of sand dollars, clams, mussels, lifeless jellyfish, and lots of crab shells...
 

 
 
I was feeling a lot of love for a lot of people.........and thought I'd somehow broadcast it to them in a big way....
 

 
 
I walked as far south as I could—-to a place where hardly anyone was around....
 

 
...and to where I couldn't go any further due to the tide. The wind was really strong, making very crashy and dramatic waves!
 

 
 
Then I found a nice, soft spot where sand had drifted up against some deadwood...and took a nap in the warm sand...listening to the wind, waves, and seagulls.
 

 
 
Here is a little of the Ocean Therapy to share with you...
 
 


 
I didn't realize just how strong the wind was until I turned to walk northward again. It took me twice as long pushing into the headwinds...and there were little rivers of sand blowing down the beach.
 

 

 
The views that awaited when I got back to my starting point were lovely - there was still some ocean fog hanging over Haystack Rock and the cliffs/hills in the distance.
 

 
 
Soon the sun began its descent over the ocean, and although I'd taken pictures of these sea stacks several times before in seasons past, there is always some new sun angle or cloud or coloring that makes it worth shooting again....the place is just frickin' awesome.
 

 
 

 
 
And again with the love surge.......(twue wuv!) 

 
 

 
 
Then Mother Nature began her big grand finale........in rolled the fog to meet the setting sun, creating a mountain range of snow-white clouds on the horizon...
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
I decided to treat myself to the famous beachside Mo's clam chowder (and a bloody mary) for dinner...
 

 
 
 
The cloud show got very intense....and although I would've loved to have stayed for the sunset - it was a "school night" and I had to head for home. But not without a few final pictures...
 
 

 
 
 
 
Ahhh. Just what I needed. I drove home with a rejuvenation and a new peace in my heart (and Sirius XM's Deep Tracks playing all-Pink Floyd for the next hour....), knowing I would have the energy of this day to draw from in weeks to come.
 
 
I'm just feeling all kinds of grateful. That was WAY too much beauty to keep to one's self. So I thought I'd share it with all y'all.
 
 
Namaste. Have a wonderful week, everyone.