AWESTRUCK

A few days ago I went down to the beach to do my daily yoga practice. My usual spot was taken, so I walked further down—alongside the cliffs, and perused a new spot. I eventually found one and plopped my yoga mat down.

It wasn’t ideal. It wasn’t flat, and I couldn’t do most of my stretches nor my favorite shoulder stand—so I decided to surrender to what was and lie as flat as I could in savasana pose and, relax and make the most of where I was at.

The early morning marine layer of thick clouds had retreated and it was hanging low over the horizon. I smiled because above me was a clear blue sky. Anyone living in Southern California in the Spring and Summer of 2023 knows that the months of May and June one can expect “May grey”, “June gloom”. However, "July Surprise" and "August disappointment" just kept on and on this year… it was as if we were having an eternal Winter of grey, cloudy skies, so any bit of sunshine was more than welcome!

The top half of my body was on a bit of a slope and I had a great, clear view of the ocean. I closed my eyes and relaxed for a few minutes and then I watched the surfers catch waves and the pelican glide smoothly above the swells. It was a glorious! I felt at peace and I was relaxed with the warm sun, preparing for a little nap.

Right in that moment, something ginormous swooshed by me. A large red-tailed hawk had just skimmed really low, to the ground—directly above my stomach and nearly touched my nose with it’s left wing!!

I was in shock, but mostly awestruck that such a magnificent bird with such amazing eyesight thought that I was part of the landscape! (in hindsight I know that birds of prey represent Archangel Michael—so I’m guessing the bird knew exactly what it was doing!)

It all happened so quickly that I barely had time to register what happened, and I watched him fly really a little further and landed on a dead tree on the bluff to my left.

I know that I had just witnessed a once in a lifetime experience—and I consider myself incredibly blessed!

Most days I have to push myself to go and do some exercise, it just doesn’t come naturally to me. Once I do it I am okay, but it takes a pep talk to get me to go and do it.

I need to remind myself daily that when I do go out into nature I am generally rewarded with something lovely, and this rang especially true on this particular day. Even though I didn’t end up doing much exercise, and I could have easily left the beach and done something else, I took the time out to be in nature, and this week I urge you to do the same.

Take the time to go out and explore, or just lie down, surrender and take a nap.

I wish you a glorious week ahead,

Much love

Sonja