My Take on That Beach Hug Thing
Alright, so someone asked about this ‘hugging on the beach’ idea. Sounds kinda fluffy, right? But stick with me. I actually had a moment like that not too long ago, and it wasn’t planned or anything fancy.
We just decided to drive down to the coast one Saturday. Wasn’t even that sunny, kinda grey actually. Kids were running around like maniacs, you know how they get near water. Sand everywhere. I was just standing there, watching the waves, kinda zoned out after a long week.
My youngest, maybe five or six at the time, just barrels into me from the side. Didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arms around my legs, tight. Almost knocked me over. Sand all over his face, grinning.
So, I bent down and hugged him back. Properly, not just a quick pat. And for maybe ten seconds, everything else just stopped. The wind, the other kids yelling, the grocery list I was mentally making… it all just faded out. It was just the feeling of the sand under my knees, the salty air, and this small person squeezing the life out of me.
Here’s the thing I realized right then: It wasn’t about the beach, not really. It was about stopping. Just stopping everything else for a second and actually being in that hug. We talk a lot about being present, mindfulness, all that stuff. Usually sounds like some guru talk. But that’s what it was. Just paying attention to that one simple thing.
- Feeling the wind.
- Hearing the waves (when they came back into focus).
- Just holding on.
It wasn’t some life-changing revelation, you know? Didn’t suddenly figure out the meaning of life. But it was a solid moment. Made me think how often we just go through the motions, even with hugs. You do the quick squeeze, pat-pat, and move on. You’re already thinking about the next thing.
So, the “practice” for me, from that simple, sandy hug? It’s just trying to actually be there when I’m there. Whether it’s a hug on the beach, waiting for the kettle to boil, or listening to someone talk. Shutting off the brain chatter for a few seconds. It’s harder than it sounds, most days I forget or just don’t bother. But that messy, sandy hug reminded me it’s worth trying. That’s my experience with it, anyway. Nothing more complicated than that.
