As I walked along the beach, the remains of sea creatures washed ashore revealed the life within the vast sea. The shells that housed the crabs, lobsters, and other life forms were tangled up in the seaweed. I looked closely to observe the beauty of their protective shells. I appreciate nature's design. The shells have evolved to protect and defend the fragile bodies within. The life is gone now. The struggle is over. Death is beautiful. Life is beautiful.
Wild flowers, branches, and leaves sway gracefully in the wind. I am mesmerized by their beauty. I can spend an eternity watching the ever-changing nature. It is beautiful. As the wind blew my long black hair across my face, covering my eyes, I feel loved.
I haven't gone hiking in months. Living in the big city, I forget about the joy I experience in nature sometimes. I immediately noticed the incredible growth in the last couple of months. During the spring when I last hiked, the trees were still mostly barren, with dark branches making a stark contrast against the blue sky. Today leaves, flowers, and fruits weighed down on the branches. They provided a much better canopy from the sun's rays, though I had on a Yankees hat that sheltered my face from the harmful UV light. :)
Nothing rejuvenates me like a nice hike up in the mountains. I saw a deer peaking behind the branches up a hill, a lizard hurrying along on the dirt, bees buzzing around sweet summer flowers, and flowers loosing their petals in the wind. As white petals rain down on me, I feel the joy of life. There's so much beauty around me, and I feel humbled to be a part of it. I am beauty, love, and joy.
When I went hiking up Malibu Creek, I realize that I appreciate the Malibu mountains as much I do the ocean below. As I walked up the dirt road, the overhanging trees provided a sheltering canopy from the scorching sun. I noticed many small lizards running across my path. Sounds of water running down the creek soothed me. I could feel the stream flowing through me, stripping away layers and layers, leaving me with my aloneness. At peace. Loving me.
It was not a typical hot beach day in Los Angeles, but since I have been venturing out towards the water every weekend, I didn't want to skip my visit. As I approached the water, I noticed a huge tree, uprooted, lying on its side. I felt sad. I descended the steps leading down to the water, holding on to the railing for support, against the strong gusts blowing at me.
Windy and cold, in the 60s, the water crashed upon the shore with much energy and vigor. The turbulent waves unsettled the seaweeds, crabs, and rocks from the ocean floor. Tossed upon the desolate beach, people and seagulls picked at their remains. They are the artifacts that give land creatures a glimpse into the life under the sea.
Walking close to the waves, I got my flip flips and cuffs wet. I enjoyed the sounds of the waves, each current different from the next. I noticed the foam that collected along the shore. It might be oil pollution that caused the foaming, as I looked out along the horizon and saw oil wells in the water. That's my guess. I was mesmerized by how pretty the foams looked against the radiant light. Fragile and reflective, they blew away quickly. How beautiful!
After a week of not being able to drive to the beach on a whim, I missed it terribly. Today I finally went and it was a bit of a homecoming. It was low tide when I got there. The rocks that the waves usually crash down on were exposed. Seagulls played hop scotch on them, looking for their next meal. Small kids followed their lead, as they skipped around from one mossy rock to another.
The seagulls and children brought out the child in me. I wanted to join them then, but I was too comfortable laying on my stomach, tanning. I was again in another string bikini, which in my boyfriend's words, "is quite a bikini." I'll leave it at that. I'll continue tanning...
Looking up at the sky and out into the vast blue ocean, I felt like I lived in a fish bowl. I felt the most relaxed and comfortable. The warm sand embraced me. I got lost in the magnificent love of the sun. I can't live without it. I can't get enough of it. Don't let the sun go down on me. Don't let the sun go down on me.
