What Hating Sand Has Taught Me

A few life lessons from the grainy stuff that gets everywhere.

I hate sand. Always have. I know it’s a strong statement but I honestly hate sand. It defies control. It sticks to your skin and gets in-between everything: your food, your clothes, your toes, your HAIR. It finds its way into every crevice of your life. And it doesn’t leave easily. My son, however, loves sand. Loves it. He’s 4, so I reckon he just doesn’t know better, yet. He runs wild through it—hurling himself into its trenches with reckless joy and covers (I mean, covers) himself in it. While on our cute little family holiday earlier this week, I had to overcome my aversion for sand because I love my children and I’m a great mum. As I sat and prayed for sand to leave me alone while they frolicked with glee all through it, some thoughts came flowing through my mind about what this was teaching me. And some of it was good and necessary life lessons.

Damn you, sand. You have lessons.

The Lessons of Sand

• Embrace imperfection: sand will scatter and stick to you. It’s inevitable. The only way to be with it is to simply let things be what they are. Messy and magic.

• Relinquish control: you can fight sand all you want. Shake the towels, rinse the feet, cover your food, but it still laughs at you. The more you resist it, the more it holds on. Freedom lies in surrender.

• Let the winds come. They will also go.

• Snacks uneaten attract seagulls. Eat the snacks.

• Salt water won’t wash it all away. Some things linger. Grit shapes us.

• And the most profound lesson of all? What looks like annoyance is actually awe. Under a magnifying glass, sand are crystals. CRYSTALS! Histories in each grain. Shattered bits of rock and shell. Fragments of divine mystery. Stay in awe.

Image of intricate grains of sand magnified, for proof:

Source

Is there something you resist or despise in the natural world that actually carries profound insights for you? I’d love to hear it. And while I’m not rushing to the beach again any time soon, I am grateful for these moments and its (forced) lessons.

Much love, friends.

—Kat

Ps — I know my disdain for sand disturbs some people. I hear it a lot. It’s okay, friends. We’re infinite in our diversity! You can love sand and I may struggle to understand your love for it but we’ll find a point of unity to coalesce around. See? Profound insights.