the thing about the sea...

The seashore is full of metaphors; tides, storms, waves, surf, rocks, shells- gifts all. In Anne Morrow Lindbergh's
seminal book "​Gift From the Sea" she says,

                     "The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows
​                       not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience , patience, patience , is what the sea teaches.
                      Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea."

So many times in the past I used to myself walking on the shore and looking at the beautiful rocks and shells, thinking that I shouldn't be looking down, I'm losing out on the bigger picture. Looking at the different kinds of rocks so closely takes me away from the sensory experience of being at the beach, taking in the salty air, feeling the breeze, listening to the waves, and noticing the reflections of the clouds in the water and on the sand.

What I have become aware of over the years is that I can't stay in that sensory place for miles on the beach.  I need both. I need to feel and be, and I need to spend time looking and focusing on the rocks and shells. The rocks are part of the whole, the gestalt. The whole experience touches my soul, that's the gift the sea gives me.

In my life I have to be present to what is,  in all of its forms. 

What's your metaphor?