We walked on the beach yesterday, in the first golden sunlight we had seen for a few days. The cold wind whipped our faces red, and tugged and tangled our hair, creating wild styles in the dogs long fur. It swirled the sand into long streaks across the beach and churned the sea into millions of white horses. When we walked into it, it seemed to steal our very breath away, and if I smiled my teeth hurt in the cold fierce air. All this energy made me grin, despite the sore teeth, and joy bubbled up inside me growing with each exciting, windswept breath. I hadn’t gone looking for it, but there it was patiently waiting to be uncovered, and I laughed out loud into the winter wind and the low blinding sunlight.
Sometimes it was so hard to walk that we all ground to a halt and just stood facing into the oncoming wind, our ears filled with wild sounds of rushing air, all our senses stunned. It lifted my spirits in an utterly surprising way, and made me think about the way I sometimes chase after joy, searching it out here and there, and yet never quite find it. Usually when I’m not looking it turns up and surprises me. Had I known the wind would be so fierce, I might have thought twice about a walk on the beach, and then I would have missed out on all this fun. When we think we know how something will feel we make assumptions which narrow our lives.
Just around the corner the wind surprised me again by dropping completely, leaving me gasping in awe at the golden reflections of the setting sun in the still water on the sand. A different joy filled me then, one full of peace. If I had turned back to escape the wild wind I would have missed this golden stillness, and once again I’m reminded to stay open to what lies around the corner. Life might have some surprising beauty to throw our way, filling our lives with unexpected joy, but only if we stay open enough to receive it. Let go, breathe out and open yourself to the wild flowing winds of life.
Find more joy filled posts at this weeks photo challenge.
breathofgreenair 
Thank you for sharing the joy!
My pleasure as always Amy 🙂
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I wish you and your family a wonderful 2014…very best x
Andrea
And of course I’m wishing the same back to you, over the countless waves and the dark ocean !
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Lovely to see the dogs having such fun 🙂 I see Scotland has been hit badly overnight and today with lots of flooding! Hope you’re ok?
We’re fine thank you Sarah, but the local river is incredibly full, and running very fast. We walked the dogs beside it today and my husband was worried about the dogs being swept away!
There are lots of flooded local roads, but luckily we are all stocked up ready for our Hogmanay celebrations tomorrow. We live in an old house built on high ground between the North and South fork of the Esk, and thankfully don’t need to worry about flooding 🙂
How are things in your parts?
We just got back from a trip to Shropshire and Manchester so haven’t yet been along to the areas that were worst affected! I think the water levels have dropped off a bit. It’s a relief to be on higher ground when we get these rains!
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How fun. I’ve read your beach posts in reverse order and commented about a severe case of beach-envy that I have developed from being a dedicated follower of your blog. Hrumph. D
Oh dear, I’m very sorry about that David 🙂
We are really very lucky to have both beautiful sandy beaches and dramatic rocky cliffs…..oh and a huge tidal estuary dotted with Islands….hope I’m not provoking more beach envy! I’m always delighted that you’re following along.
I can sure feel that whippy wind Seonaid from your pictures … oh the joy in those dogs … rippling flying fur with button noses breathing in all that fresh air … wonderful .
Oh what a scrumptious comment Poppy….whippy wind…I love the way that sounds 🙂
And a wonderful and very accurate description of the hairy hounds!
That second photo, with their hair blowing all over the place just screams joy!!!
A good resolution: to stay open to what lies around the corner.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you…..and if that’s your resolution I have to say you’re making a wonderful recovery 🙂 Accidents and trauma can be just some of the things which cause us to feel less comfortable about staying open! Equally of course I’m sure you will have had some wonderful support from surprising corners….life does like to keep up the surprises!
I love the colors ..perfect time to take photos!
Thank you….I do love the low late light…..and at this time of year it’s sooo low, creating wonderful long shadows!
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Beautiful writing and photos that bring it alive for me. Thanks for the joyful moments.
My pleasure as always 🙂
Your photos are full of such joy…They pull you in to the moment to the story.
Thank you Charlie, using the camera was a bit of a struggle because of the wind, but even that made me laugh!
And everything was moving so much, the sand, the dogs, their fur….:-)
You show how the beach is beautiful in all seasons!
Thanks Janice, it’s so true, the beach lifts my spirits what ever the weather!
It’s hard to beat the joy of a walk on the beach with your dog.
I agree Tony…..dogs and beaches were made for each other!!
Beautiful, and my favorite times to visit the beach too!
It was what I would call invigorating, and was brilliant for blowing away the cobwebs!
Lovely to meet another beach lover 🙂
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Excellent – prompted me to look for this 🙂
Well that had me laughing out loud all over again, wonderful thank you!
They do just love the wind in their faces….I’m guessing it smells extra strong, and feels great 🙂
That lull was a bonus, but even had the wind been unrelenting you would have returned with a feeling of refreshment. Often we say, ‘I’m not venturing out in THIS,’ not realising the exhilaration that would have come from venturing out. The windswept dogs really look happy.
They really are happy, they love the feeling and smells I think….plus they look kind of cute 🙂 I find the dogs get me out into the world whatever the weather ( they give me big sad eyes which are hard to say no to) and I really never regret it!
Parabéns Seonaid, acredito que possui uma grande vida, na partilha com os seus e são muitos pelo que nos diz, mas sobretudo no acompanhamento que faz, como é gratificante sabermos que existem pessoas como a Seonaid, bem haja, excelente 2014 para si e restante familia
Thank you Jose 🙂
Joy often nips us in a tender withheld place when all along we thought there was no way that feelings could reach into that secret place. Yes, Seonaid assumptions are the thoughts that shield us from the magnificence of our life and the possibilities spread out before us like jewels….if only we would open our eyes. Here is a quote by Rumi that I love: “Why do you stay in prison….when the door is wide open?” Your post tells me that your door is truly wide open. Gratitude for your gifts of capturing the essence of life in image and word! New Year Love coming your way…..Gaye
Gaye, I love that Rumi quote, and it’s so full of wisdom. Assumptions are a terrible curse on life, but we have the keys in our own hands to set us free 🙂
Joy and love are great gifts……wishing you a peaceful New Year.
You describe the wind and its turning and dropping and the joy inside … so well! My dogs love strong winds too. They turn their noses up to the wind and stand there just enjoying, feeling the wind tossing their curls in every direction – But yours, well, I remember my Amanda when I see them. Running, running with those long strands of hair flowing like waves in the ocean…Lovely.
They do look wonderful with their fur rippling in the wind, and I suspect it feels amazing all over their bodies! I also suspect that all dogs love strong wind in their noses….see the clip Robert attached in the comments…..it’s very funny!
Indeed it is…!
Filled with joy and abundance and your utter willingness to experience life at its fullest. Thank you so much for sharing this.
My pleasure, joy has a way of flowing on out into the world around us 🙂
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I’m sure the dogs loved the wind!!
They really did Eric…and surprisingly so did I 🙂
Agree with J. Casey, thanks for posting.
My pleasure, thanks for your thoughts 🙂
Beautiful experience and a great read!
That’s such a lovely comment to read! So glad you enjoyed the post.
I believe that the wind takes our problems away. Love the hairs in the wind of your dogs, they must feel very good now. 🙂 Thanks dear Seonaid.
They do Rosa, thank you….and I believe you’re right about the wind….because I feel so much better to 🙂
I love that moment when we turn a corner, a high wind just stops and silence reigns and I love the way you’ve described it, thanks Seonaid 🙂
Thanks Gilly, it was a beautiful contrast…and quite a surprising day. Rather challenging though for photos!