When the universe whispers

 Savoring simple daily pleasures

(Day 39 of my no buy year- 1 month ticked off)

Have you ever found yourself in a moment so incredibly perfect you hardly dare breathe and your heart flutters with a kind of urgency to absorb every element in order to treasure the memory forever?

For most of us, these moments don't happen very frequently- we may have regular glimpses peppered through our weeks, and moments to savor with family, loved ones, nature, our faith and spirituality, that we notice and appreciate and are grateful for- the ethos of this blog entirely; to savor and honor and treasure the little moments that make up our lives. 

This past weekend I had one such experience that was so idyllic and so incredibly special it will stay with me forever. All the elements we aligned as my husband and I - on the spur of the moment- decided to leave the girls sleeping in our beachside accommodation and take the Jetski over to a nearby Island, just for a short time, with a book and towel each and little else. 

It was a bluebird day, still early enough the sun had no real bite, a gentle breeze, and the tide almost at its fullest.  

It was mind-blowing to me as we motored gently into the bay, that we were 11 minutes from where we were staying, and only 2 hours from our home- yet transported into an absolute paradise. I don't think I've ever seen water so crystal clear, the sky was cloudless, the sand was white, and the crescent beach was deserted- just for us. A shadow caught our eye as we dropped anchor - a large, graceful stingray gliding by. We laid our towels on the sand and marveled at the beauty and sheer perfection of the moment. The sun was just right- warm but not fierce, the water was the most exquisite temperature, and the gradient of the sand ideal for taking just a couple of steps before diving in.  

We only stayed an hour or so, and as we got ready to leave several more little boats were making their way over from the mainland beach. But we had managed to time our little excursion- with such perfection, to have those incredibly special moments of absolute awe and wonder and a swelling in my heart of unimaginable gratitude; to be fortunate enough to have been there, with the love of my life, at that very moment in time. 

The rest of our beach weekend was wonderful too, and we were blessed with fabulous weather, and lots of fun and good company. That special time on the island will be with me forever. 

We landed home again with somewhat of a bump, heading straight back into work and school, finding our way back into routines and schedules- still not at full throttle as yet thankfully, with some activities and classes not yet resumed for the year, and with a smattering of public holidays to break up our weeks. 

We just have to allow ourselves to tune into the universe to hear what she's whispering to us, what she's urging us to do- or not to do.  Several books and articles I have read in the recent weeks have all been gently nudging me in the direction I know I am drawn to take my path.  Encouraging me to be courageous and take those steps. All these little signs and whispers have been seemingly by chance, but they add up to a goosebump inducing message to follow my dreams, step out of my comfort zone and take the risk. Seasons come and go, as mother nature so graciously reminds us daily, and we need to take these opportunities and signs as they make themselves known to us- or they may slip by and been wasted. I was struck by the apples on the tree near my office - from delicate white blossoms not so long ago, the hard green little nubs, now glossy rosy apples almost ready for picking. Nature doesn't wait, the cycles keep moving and keeping on with their own steady rhythm. So do our lives. Don't put off what is calling to you, what's pulling you. Don't ignore the signs that are being shown to you, encouraging you to be brave, follow your path, take the plunge. I'm not suggesting you be wreck less, just to notice. Reflect, ponder, and allow yourself to entertain the ideas presenting themselves to you. 

That magical beach has been with me in my mind frequently since our return, the (sometimes) rare and beautiful feeling of complete contentment. I intend to embrace it and keep those memories safe.