Little Rainbows Everywhere
Block Island is one of my favorite places on Earth. My family is lucky that every year we take the boat and visit the island once or twice. We enjoy anchoring in New Harbor, lounging in the cockpit of our boat, visiting the beaches, shopping in town, and swimming. And of course, we enjoy going to The Oar for a mudslide while our kids hang over the dock using a string and hot dogs to catch crabs.
My favorite Block Island “alarm clock” is the sound of Aldo’s Bakery Boat yelling “Andiamo!” waking boaters up to let them know that they are there and ready to sell fresh baked muffins, croissants, donuts, and egg sandwiches for breakfast. There is a big part of me that wants to voice record the sound of the Aldo’s Boat to make my real alarm clock for the other days when I am home…..just to bring me back to my favorite place, even in the dead of winter!
Everytime we leave the dock to head for Block Island, my daughter fairly consistently asks, “Can we go to Coast Guard Beach?” And she will keep asking until we arrive and actually take her there. I’m not sure if Coast Guard Beach is the real name of the spit of sand at the entrance to the harbor. We call it that because along the beach there is a Coast Guard station. But other than that, it is a fairly no-frills beach.
There is a lot of fun to be had at my daughter’s favorite New Harbor spot, however. We enjoy swimming on the beach because there is a giant drop off that quickly goes from shallow water to over your head in just a few steps. We also enjoy walking down the beach because we can go past the jetty and onto a larger beach with lots of seals and even an ever-changing fort made from washed up driftwood.
However, my daughter and I love the beach for a reason that makes it unique. There are small rocks and pebbles in every color of the rainbow along the shore at Coast Guard Beach. I’ve never seen anything like it! And for the last few years, we have been collecting the rocks and turning them into temporary beach art.
My daughter and I have made rainbow rock mandalas, circles, hearts, arches, and more! It is amazing how colorful this beach is and we truly enjoy looking down on the sand or in the water to collect all of this natural beauty to turn it into something for everyone to enjoy….until the ocean decides to wash our creation back out to sea.
I find walking on any beach and searching for treasures incredibly soothing. To me, it is the ultimate way for me to reduce stress. Whether it is collecting sea glass, beautiful shells, or even rocks….it doesn’t matter, I am instantly relaxed.
It is interesting for me to do these sea-treasure walks with my daughter. I often notice how different our tastes are in what we see for beauty in our collections. My daughter enjoys finding rocks with speckles and shells with patterns, while I prefer colorful rocks and shells with swirls and spirals. This observation got me thinking….how do we, as humans, determine beauty when we all see it so differently?
Every ocean treasure has their own unique qualities…..from patterns to color and shape. But each treasure also has its own individual flaws, as well…..from cracks and chips to smudges of color and mishapes. But yet for someone walking the beach, it is also unique in what we find worthy enough to pick up, keep, and/or turn into temporary artwork.
It’s funny because it got me thinking about how the world equates beauty with perfection and unreachable standards. But when I looked at the collection of treasures that we found on Coast Guard Beach, not one of them was flawless! Yet my daughter and I found beauty, joy, and gratitude in each of the treasures we found!
Imagine a world where we look at ourselves and others like we look at beach collections! What if we embraced and accepted life for what it is…unique qualities, flaws, and all? And even further, what if we took the ordinary (like our colored rocks) and turned it into something for everyone to appreciate?
Walking on the beach and collecting rainbow rocks with my daughter was a very simple exercise that we spent quite a bit of time doing (and continue to do at every visit). This beach is a constant state of wonder for both of us. Why can’t I take this simplicity home with me into my everyday world? All it takes is a little bit of mindfulness……but what does that look like?
When we begin to find that our inner perfectionist is taking over, it is important to stop and notice that this is happening. Take a break, find a place to be still, and become present. Just like at the beach, simply focus on what is around you. Sometimes it helps to pick one thing in your surroundings to focus on and study intensely….just like we would study the rocks and shells along the beach. Notice the unique qualities of whatever you decide to focus on. It really helps if you can take this break in nature.
My favorite thing to do when I am noticing the beauty in small things around me is to savor it….take a picture so that you can go back to that moment anytime that you need it. And remember how that moment made you feel. This exercise in mindfulness can be all you may need to find beauty, joy, and gratitude in a day that feels overwhelming and stressful!
Our world today can leave us in chaos, which can bring us down and make us feel overwhelmed. This can also leave us feeling less appreciative of all the small things that can bring us joy and wonder. Coast Guard Beach’s rainbow rocks reminded me that the world still has beauty in it, if we find the time to be present and look closely.
In nature, nothing is perfect. On the beach, rocks can be weird shapes and shells can be cracked yet they are still beautiful. And together, they create something unique.
Everything in the world has flaws.
Including us.
Yet we still hold beauty.
And together, we create something quite special.
So just like my time collecting sea treasures on Coast Guard Beach, it is a choice in how I can find beauty in everything….embracing and accepting life and all its imperfections.
