“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me.” ~ Isaac Newton
Life’s a beach. What does that conjure up in your head? Is it a play on words for “Life’s a bi***”, or is it something quite opposite — that life really is like a beach.
After just returning from vacation, where we spent several days camping on beaches, stopping for lunch on beaches, and warming up on beaches — this metaphor on life came into my head.
And I say that life IS like a beach. Something about a nice sand beach is very relaxing. Think about a walk on the beach. Or a campfire at the beach. Or just resting at the beach. Relaxing and calming.
A beach can also be fun. Think about sand volleyball at the beach. Or swimming at the beach. Or building sand castles at the beach. All fun activities.
A beach can also be stormy. Think about watching a storm coming in from the ocean. Or waves crashing against the shore.
Life is a beach. Sometimes calming, sometimes fun, and sometimes stormy. Life is what we make it. Some circumstances we can’t control, just like a beach can’t stop a storm from coming in. A beach is what we make it to be. Do we want fun — then play more games at the beach. Do we want more calm — more walks along the beach. And that’s how life is also. We can choose what we desire for our life. Sure, some things are not within our control. But those that are, we can choose to do what we want.
What do you choose? What lies undiscovered ahead for you? On the beach of your life, what do you want it to look like?
I want to see a big collage of positive moments, things, people.
Mark Salinass last blog post..Last Week Linkin’…
I don’t fundamentally disagree with you, though I do have a hard time imagining beach as a place to be productive, to do my life’s work. Maybe if I were a lifeguard, that’s a different story.
ari
Ari Koinumas last blog post..To My Fellow Self Improvement/Personal Development Bloggers
what an super way of seeing life! I want my beach to be a lot more calm with fewer storms. My storms aren’t so bad though, just kids getting into little fights now and then or the occasional car that suddenly needs repairing. Thanks for the reflection
Annettes last blog post..My Resort in the Country
Just like the beach I have to wade through the water of my life as it hits the shore. In my life, while things are certainly obvious there are things under the sand or under water that will bring surprises or danger.
My life is like a beach, it’s surprising and yet it’s a calm afternoon with the sun setting on the horizon.
Hi Lance,
I think life can be a bi***. And I guess it can also be a beach. Sometimes it can also be a bi*** on a beach.
I once had a very serious conversation with my wife on a beach. It was the closest we ever came to ending our marriage. Fortunately we both said the right things and came to the right decision.
That was years ago (12) and we’re still happliy married, but it’s amazing how deeply this experience was imprinted on my mind.
Good stuff Lance. Thank you.
Dave
Life definitely slows down when you’re at the beach. You also feel more attuned to nature. When I feel like I’m experiencing technological overload I head on off to my father’s beach house which is about a two hour car ride from Panama City. It definitely helps me regain my balance.
Marelisas last blog post..Create a Personal Manifesto: Your Self-Portrait
I wanna leave my footprint.
MizFits last blog post..Monday Facetime: we’re getting all kinds of consistent up in herre.
@Mark — A big collage — that sounds cool!
@Ari — OK, so maybe it wouldn’t work all the time to physically have a life at the beach all the time — but hey, as a metaphor, the beach is a pretty cool place to hang out…
@Annette — Are we on the same beach?? I have some of those same storms here! Calm does sound pretty good.
@Chris — That’s just it, you said it well — we have to watch out sometimes for that which we can’t see. Very true.
@Dave — Glad to hear things worked out on your beach (the real one). Sounds like it was a real turning point in your relationship. Here’s to many more years and many more beaches together for you two.
@Marelisa — It does slow down, and for me, it seems more carefree. I like that feeling. Good to get there every once in a while and experience that. Sounds like you’ve got a great place to do that at!
@MizFit — Footprints in the sand… and leaving your mark in the way you’ve touched the world!
I think I’d like to build beautiful, amazing, big sandcastles — but not too quickly, at just the right rate. And the scenery around the sand castles would be beautiful and amazing, and everyone would enjoy them. There!
Robins last blog post..This Blogging Life!
You are making me think tonight. Still thinking…I’ll get back to you on this!
FitMoms last blog post..You are an athlete
This is the second time I’m posting here as the first one did not seem to get through.
I live on an island essentially. It is a city built on an island — Singapore. It’s rather nice with topical beaches and trees all around. Just looking out of the window makes me realise how lucky I am to be here!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Raise Awareness; Release Guilt
Hi Lance,
I love the beach, but don’t get there as often as I’d like. I love the tranquility the waves create. It’s like they cleanse your soul.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..NBOTW — Reaching Out To Our Ancestors
I want perfect 5 foot waves every day so I can live in surfing bliss (-:
The beach is open to many metaphors. Good point.
@Robin — That sounds lovely…and fun. Playing in the sand is cool. I’ve never been good at making big sand castles, but I sure have fun trying!
@FitMom — And that’s part of the real reason for this — to get you thinking!
@Evelyn — Singapore sounds like a wonderful place — you are lucky! Keep enjoying your tropical paradise!
@Barbara — Yes, I agree that the waves do create tranquility. And that’s one of the things I really love about the beach as well. I find the waves to be very comforting.
@Bamboo Forest — Surfing — all right! That’s something that looks like a lot of fun, but I’ve never tried. I guess we just don’t live close enough to those 5 foot waves. Still…
To me, life is the heavens. You can’t see where they start or stop and, just like the stars, the possibilities could not ever be counted.
Writer Dads last blog post..One World, One Dream
I like this metaphor!
I also love what MizFit said.. leaving a footprint. I’ll second that.
Vereds last blog post..Oops. Outed.
My beach life — the tranquility and stability of a calm Summer’s day on the beach, balanced with the excitment and change of a wild ocean storm. Both are needed. Both are desired.
Urban Panthers last blog post..Yep, tastes good
I love your thoughts on the beach. The beach borders on that unfathomable ocean. You never know what that water will churn up and leave at your feet.
Mama Cs last blog post..“Let Them Eat Cake!”
Hi Lance.
I love the beach, but my favourite place is in the trees. My future holds the vision of a beautiful, but modest log cabin. There I am sitting at my desk overlooking the beautiful view, writing. My hubby is in the kitchen whipping up a gourmet dinner. Sigh.
Davinas last blog post..Look Ma, I Can Fly!
@Writer Dad — Life IS in the heavens! We live in a wondrous universe!
@Vered — Footprints — our mark on the world…that is a great way to look at beaches.
@Urban Panther — Stability and excitement, that sounds like a great combination to a fine life!
@Mama C — Yes, the ocean, and all the mystery it brings…just like life!
@Davina — A log cabin in the woods also sounds very nice! I could go for that too. If I were the hubby whipping up the gourmet dinner, though, I’d need some more practice before you could use the word gourmet! Enjoy your husband and all his many talents.
Hi Lance — You probably know by now I am a sucker for a metaphor or analogy and this is a good one.
I look at the tides and their effect on the beach being symbolic of changes in our lives. The beach is forever changing with the tides and so are our lives.
Leanne Magraiths last blog post..Open Up The Window
I lived down in La Jolla, CA for 6 months a long time ago…before it became so hip and crowded. The beauty was overwhelming and I had to leave in order to do some work. The metaphor I’ve just used for life is “Life is a Mystery”. the image is different, but the sentiment is the same as the one expressed in the Newton quote.
Thanks for the post1
Oops! That should have been “Thanks for the post!” And I didn’t capitalize the start of one sentence. My eyes aren’t working too well tonight!
great post! I want my life to be calmer, with gentle waves. whenever things get stressful, I need to take a deep breath and remember the gentle smell of the sea air.
workout mommys last blog post..Chores? Ignore them!
Workout Mommy — Calm sometimes escapes us, especially, it seems, when their are kids involved! Getting away from it all is a great way to de-stress. And have fun.