Puffy white clouds give way to differing shades of purple and pink. Swirling into the azure sky the colors caress the golden ball as it sinks low on the horizon. A ray of light sends a mirror image of the sun across the dark waters to reflect on the tidal pool where footprints and bits of shells are disappearing. A sense of peace envelops me as I watch the light of the setting sun dance along the water. Gone are the noisy children running along the shoreline. Gone are the cheers from the beach volleyball and Frisbee games. Gone are the pelicans searching for their dinner. Gone are the elusive fins you catch a glimpse of as friendly dolphins play a game a hide and seek.
It was just a few hours earlier that I pulled into Sea Pines, the Hilton Head condo that was going to be my respite from the stresses of sheltering in place. I quickly unpacked the car, slathered on some sunscreen, jumped on my bicycle, and headed to the beach. The strong smell of the salty ocean was calling me. What heaven! The hot sun was high in the sky and beating down on the smooth white sand.
Children were squealing as they ran from the cold water to the hot sand. Teenagers were playing Frisbee and paddle tennis. A beach volleyball tournament was in full swing and the cheers of the onlookers bounced off the sounds of wet hands against the ball. The smell of suntan oil filtered into my nostrils mixed with the aroma of fried seafood from a beachfront café. Nowhere were there any signs of masks or distancing and it made me a bit nervous.
I pedaled and pedaled on the hard-packed sand until the crowd thinned out. Never before had I ridden on the beach. The feeling was so freeing. I took off my baseball cap and threw it up into the air, laughing. I got off my bike and walked and walked, hunting for shells and finding treasure--tiny conch shells and a dried out sand dollar. I sat alone at the water’s edge, watching the seagulls fly above. A pelican circled round and round then dove into the water and came up with a fish. I sat amazed as he repeated this again and again--flying low over the waves, then diving into the water to catch his dinner. I listened to the muted music that filtered onto the beach from a far away outdoor cafe and felt such a sense of calm as I watched the waves methodically crash onto the shore. I glimpsed the fin of a dolphin and then another and another. A pod of dolphins was using the ocean in front of me for their playground. I watched them for more than an hour as they swam back and forth, breaking the surface with their gleaming black and gray bodies, and then disappearing back into the waves. It doesn’t get any better than this, I thought to myself. But then it did.
The sky became a kaleidoscope of color as the sun began its descent. The faint smell of coconut oil from my sunscreen mixed with the saltiness of the ocean. The once-hot sand felt cool as I dug in my toes. As the sun slipped like a giant coin into a slot, I felt the weariness of the months of lockdown under stay-at-home orders slip away. I felt blessed to be able to once again feel connected as I shared in nature’s glory.
I slowly open my eyes and stop focusing on my breathing. I feel peaceful and a sense of hope envelops me. As I look out the window and see my neighbor walking with a mask on, I’m thrown back into the reality of our new normal. However, the benefits of this meditative exercise will help see me through this pandemic. I will hold this slice of heaven in my heart. I will be all right.
