A shoreline is a good place to let a plan become a suggestion. There is always another curve of sand, another cluster of rocks, another patch of water catching the light.
One more bend
The idea was to walk until we found somewhere to sit. We passed several perfectly good places. Each time, there was something just ahead that deserved a closer look: a bright line of foam, a smooth stone, a small pool left behind by a wave.
Soon our pockets held a few pebbles and our conversation had settled into the rhythm of the water. The coast did most of the talking. We were happy to listen.
A place to pause
Eventually we found a patch of shade and stayed there. The view was no better than the one we had started with. It was simply the one we had taken time to reach.
Waves folded over the rocks and pulled back again. A cloud moved slowly out over the water. We left the pebbles where we had found them and carried the afternoon home instead.
You don’t always need a destination. Sometimes a direction will do.
A small thing to try
Find a safe stretch of shoreline, riverside, or park path. Leave enough time to stop somewhere without checking the clock.
Photo by Roy Tanck · WordPress Photo Directory · CC0.