A few weeks ago, before school ended for the summer, I had the opportunity to be one of the parent chaperones for a fifth grade field trip to explore tidal pools at Place Cove in Hampton, NH. As Alex, my younger son, will be starting middle school next year, I suspected that this might be my last invitation to join a field trip, so I juggled some things in my schedule to clear most of the day for the excursion. Boy, was it worth it!
What fun we had during our time at the beach! We gingerly made our way along the rocks at the water’s edge, occasionally slipping on patches of seaweed. The kids were fascinated by their exploration of the tidal pools and would excitedly call out to others to come view their discoveries. We found and handled starfish, sea urchins, sponges (I spied a bright orange-colored one), crabs, shrimp, limpets, and loads of snails, mussels, and barnacles. After eating picnic lunches and drawing and writing in their science notebooks, the children and their teachers piled back on the school buses for their return trip to school. All of the other parents packed up right away and headed home, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the beach right away.
It felt like the ocean was a magnet drawing me into its field and since I knew I had plenty of time before I needed to be back in my office, I gave into its pull. I slipped off my shoes and set out for a walk on the beach, enjoying the give of the sand. In contrast to the hard pavement I usually walk on, I loved the way my feet sank into the sand with every stride. The sun, which had been a stranger in the previous weeks, came out and welcomingly warmed my back as I walked along the water’s edge. I let a few waves roll over my feet and was surprised that the water wasn’t as bracing as I expected for so early in the season. The breeze off of the water cooled my face and brought with it the unmistakable briny, slightly fishy smell of the ocean. Other than a handful of walkers and sunbathers, the beach was deserted. The only sounds were those of lapping waves and screeching gulls. As I took in the sights of diving seabirds and picked up an interesting rock to add to my collection, I thought, “I’m in my element.”
This mid-week break at the beach left me totally relaxed and rejuvenated—much the way a vacation or retreat would. It made me realize how important it is to create opportunities to connect to the natural world, especially to the elements or combinations of elements that most resonate with us. In other blog postings I’m exploring some of the possibilities and practices of connecting through each of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. I invite you to take a look, try out a few practices, and add your own comments. Whether it’s a day at the beach, in the mountains or in the garden, I hope you have plenty of opportunities this summer to be in your element.