Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

It still makes me smile when I think about my first introduction to the Outer Banks. The summer before I entered High School (summer of 1987 I do believe) I went with my Uncle Ron and his daughter, Heidi, along with a whole host of others to Nags Head for a week. It was the first time I had ever gone away for that long without my parents. It was also among the best times of my early teenaged years. I also remember sending postcards but not phoning my parents until we got to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on the way home!

I remember the layout of the house, the sight of the beach from the crow's nest, the wonderful memories that have lasted a lifetime! I remember buying my first bikini at a little swanky shop, boogie boarding, parasailing, and eating seafood for the first time. I even remember the name of my first beach crush, Evan! Hahaha oh the memories. 

It took me nearly 20 years to find my way back to the OBX and now it is a yearly occurrence. My son-through-marriage lives in Corolla and is a gracious host when we need a little get away. When my soul needs recharging, I know one little trip to the Outer Banks can get me right again. This little trip was no different for me. 

Tomorrow is the start of a weeklong back to school in-service. Normally I would be excited to see everyone (which I am) but this time, I am a bundle of nerves. I will have a new grouping of people to get to know, a new supervisor to get used to, and a whole new realm of teaching to become reacquainted with. I am a bundle of nerves. This week has been a great way to reassure myself that all will be ok and I can accept the new challenges confidently. 

As I sat on the beach (and the drive on beach is my favorite place to be), I focused all my negative energy on the waves, letting the tides and currents wash them all away. A peaceful sense of serenity washed over me and I realized I will be AOK! The drive home, while being filled with sadness at having to leave my happy place, is not filled with dread. It is bittersweet that my summer vacation began with a trip to Corolla and is pretty much ending with the same trip. I am at peace in my professional life thanks to the Ocean and her mystical powers!

Now if only my test scores would post.....

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I am one with the Ocean....I am she and she is me.

I don't know about you, but I feel so close to my inner self, my inner sense of being, when I am in the OBX. I've been to beaches before, but for some reason, when I am here, I feel like I am in touch with my sense of direction. My oldest would laugh at that statement because I really have no sense of direction, but that isn't the sense of direction I am necessarily talking about.

When I am sitting on the beach here in Corolla, I have no fears, no worries. It is as if the water senses all my inhibitions and insecurities and sends them right out to sea. I find answers to innermost questions and I feel at peace with myself and the path my life is taking. Although right now, things in my professional path seem rocky and unstable (for me anyway), being here washes all that away and gives me a sense of serenity and hope.

Last night, Alicia introduced me to a little shoppe called Mystic Gifts. It was a wonderful little shoppe that housed crystals, essential oils, and lots of positive energy. I purchased a book and stone set about the Ocean; taking the power of the ocean and its pathway stones with you when you leave. Each of the 21 pathway stones is made from oyster shells and include different ocean symbols. Simplistic drawings. Each stone pulls from the ocean and helps you when you need the spirit of the ocean to guide you.

I sat on the beach today getting to know my stones. Holding them, reading about each symbol, taking them and creating a bond with each stone. I know many of you may find this completely silly, however, it was a powerful experience. The experience of making those stones mine brought me to tears so many times. As the ocean breeze calmly blew in and my mind was set free to accept each stone, I couldn't help but be lifted in positive energy!

I feel a certain kinship to the ocean, one that grounds me in positive thinking, makes me smile and be happy, and fear not! There is part of me that wishes I had that every day, and now....with my Ocean pathway stones, I can! I can return to the ocean whenever I need her advice and I know she will not steer me wrong. She hasn't yet!!!

It's all in how you view a disappointment

Well, this is NOT how I hoped to start my day in the OBX! I woke up to the sound of rain pinging off the roof. Although I had hoped it was just the outside sprinklers, a quick walk to the kitchen, where we have a beautiful view of the Currituck Sound, revealed it was not. Of course, I am terribly bummed by this! My babygirl finally makes it to the beach and now we have craptastic weather. Complaining? Not really. I believe it is more of stating facts about the current situation.

Oh I could complain. This is definitely a disappointment, especially since we love being at the beach! But rather than look at it as a downer, I am choosing to view it as something positive. After a 10 hour drive yesterday, we sure don't want to spend much more time in the car, but it will be nice to explore the area here, something we don't do much because we are beach people!!! Perhaps we will take a drive down Route 12 and see Kitty Hawk, NagsHead. Maybe we will do a lighthouse tour, checking out the lighthouses in the area. Maybe, just maybe we will find that although it is raining and a bit miserable, there is fun to be had! Heck, maybe we can drive back up Route 168 and see Grave Digger, the Monster Truck, today!!!! 

I believe all disappointments in our lives can and should be viewed as a potentially positive situation. We may not be able to see past our frustrations at the immediate time our disappointment sets in, but somewhere in the midst of our frustration or disappointment, there is something that we can be positive about. Far too often we focus on what it is that has us down, what it is that is ruining our 'what's supposed to be' that we don't realize that there is plenty of good surrounding us. Sure rain can ruin plans, but it can also help new plans evolve and that is a wonderful thing! It can also help us realize where our true thankfulness lies. If we treat all frustrations and disappointments with only the negative feelings they so often give us, we will never learn to appreciate what's hidden in our lives. Not everything we should be thankful for is right out there in plain sight! Sometimes we have to acknowledge our disappointments with an open mind to see that there is something good within it! It is almost like missing the rainbow because we were so worried about the rain!

Today, I am going to find my rainbow and I hope you find yours too!!!!