72 hours in on my vacation and I was already feeling the zen. It was 80 degrees on the beach at Oliver Bay. There was a warm breeze, pure blue sky, and gentle waves washing over my feet. It’s my favorite place in the world and at that moment I was lucky enough to be walking the beach there. I was alone with just my dog. There wasn’t another person in sight. Over a mile of white sugar sand beach and pink sandstone stretched out in front of me. I was not counting steps, aiming for any particular heart rate, or tweaking my technique. I was simply taking in the beauty around me, soaking in nature, feeling the rhythm of life.

Reminder to myself: Don’t focus on the rear view mirror when the direction I choose is forward.