Trip Log 2
05/30/2018
Cocoa Beach, Florida
My most favorite mornings usually go a little something like today’s- wake up, crawl out of bed, stop off at a friend's to throw some boards in the truck, and slowly but surely head in the direction of the beach.
Hockey Dad puts me in the mood real quick and often plays in the background as I phone everyone in, making it known that this is the final call for a ride, breakfast burritos, and coffee. I have no problem going it alone but I always get extra giddy when someone takes me up on my offer and I get to share it with them.
We paddle out with smiles plastered across our faces, determined to catch a few waves even though the surf report said it was going to be crap. Days like these we don’t really care what the report says- we just want to get wet, goof off on whatever nature serves us and laugh at ourselves later on over a couple beers.
These are the little things that, for me, contribute to the making of a day that leaves me feeling most alive. I speculate it’s because there aren’t any expectations set for it other than doing what I love. And the thing that I love most is going to the beach. It’s my soul food, and indulging in it is vital to my well being.
I can tell you right now that if I didn’t get my regular dose of vitamin sea, life just wouldn’t be the same. After high school, I moved to a small town almost no one has heard of in North Carolina. It was a short spell, albeit a miserable one. Up until then the Florida Keys had been my backyard and I was dealing with an unforeseen challenge- the closest beach was 2 hours away. 2 hours. It was a stark contrast to the life that I had been living before and not one that was good for me. Now, I’m a dedicated optimist- I always try to make the best of any situation and I tried everything I could to make up for the fact that the beach wasn’t nearby but nothing even came close. I belonged elsewhere and needed to respect that.
“What matters is how quickly you do what your soul directs.” -Rumi
As my days of stoke continued to fade due to my long-distance relationship with the ocean, I felt less and less like myself and after 8 months in Buies Creek, North Carolina I returned to Florida to renew my vows to the sea. I’m years away from that now, and it’s one of the most intelligent and healthiest decisions I’ve made for myself to date.
There’s no denying the fact that life gets in the way sometimes, but ultimately, there’s no reason for us to be starving ourselves of the things we love.
That’s what days like today are all about and what makes them so damn good (even when the surf sucks). We ended up riding ankle busters for hours, befriending a family of dolphins, and retiring at the brewery where we celebrated my escalation to yet another level of klutz as everyone witnessed my ass’ ability to bust through the seams of my bathing suit. Twice.
It’s the little things, you know?
My soul thrives on a strict diet of salt, sand, and just enough embarrassment to keep me on my toes…
What about yours?
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by Alexa Francisco
New to Grandeur?