The start.

I’ve made an effort this year to start the year how I hope to end it. I consciously thought about how I’d like to spend the last day of this year, and it was pretty simple… at the beach with the people I love.

I used to hate the beach. All that sand and the places it gets itself. I swear we’ll be cleaning sand from our car/house/clothes for the rest of our lives. And that salty air, it makes my hair all wispy and crazy. But I can’t help but love the beach. I don’t think I’ll ever be a surfer, or brave enough to swim out deep, but I love it. I can’t imagine living without it.

My love affair started when I was pregnant with Lacey. I took my beached-whale body to the ocean almost every day in summer to float. Even when it rained, and no one wanted to be at the beach… I was there.

And then, a few years ago when I was having stresses with work, a friend told me to put my feet in the sand each day. It’s pretty much the best medicine.

We didn’t really ‘do’ the beach in 2013 as a family of four. I wasn’t quite brave enough. As we got everyone out of the car on New Year’s Day, even the dog, I said to Hubby – I just want this to go well. There’s always something that can go crazy, as with any family. The dog can runaway, the baby can scream, and the little person can refuse to come home. But it was an almost Hallmark card moment. Everyone behaved. It was the perfect way to bring in the New Year, so much that we’ve done it each day since.

2014

How did you start the New Year? And do you know how you’d like to finish it?

29 thoughts on “The start.”

  1. I love the beach! I usually like to sit in the evening at the beach and look out to the beautiful water that never ends, it helps me de stress.

  2. My 17 yo daughter and I started 2014 at the beach as well while on holidays. Definitely not there by ourselves as you were. It was hot and crowded but fantastic. Just love the beach wished we lived close enough to visit everyday. We will one day!

  3. I totally agree with the feet in the sand medicine, does wonders! I like your thinking of how you want to end the year, I haven’t thought about that! I hope 2014 is an awesome year for you and your family.

  4. Just lovely. My daughters and I were at home watching The OC from my daughters DVD collection. We are hoping to finish the year somewhere different and together. Let’s see where we end up. Happy New Year to you Chantelle and your family. May 2014 be all you would like it to be. X

  5. In a very similar way…9pm fireworks on the beach on NYE them lunch amd a swim in muggy rain on NYD. We are lucky enough to live a 5min walk from it. I see it a lot but we don’t enjoy ot nearly enough as a family….it is something I am working on changing! Here’s to a fabulous 2014 xx

  6. I’m with you on the sand, today I went to the beach and was just about blown away by the wind, but I loved listening to the waves, made up for being blown away by the Fremantle Doctor. If you live in WA you need to leave the beach by lunchtime or risk having your legs sanded and branded by the wind blowing sand, and if you are aged it seriously messes with your hair xxx Rae

  7. I’m like you, I hate sand ! I live 1 hour from the beach but I never go in winter : it’s a mistake I think

  8. My family ended the year with the birth of my first grandchild and a week later the death of my father. A new life was born with many opportunities and a bright future and an old life passed with a life well lived and many treasured memories. Both experiences made me grateful for all of the blessings life brings, including the valleys that enable us to grow and become closer to God.
    I pray that our New Year is as blessed as the last and that when I experience life’s misfortunes that I face them with grace, poise, and prayer.
    LizzieP

  9. I slept through the new year but am excited to make it a good one. I do wish I spent it like you did Chantelle. Your day looks absolutely perfect!!

  10. I love the beach too, I can’t imagine not living near it, ever. I started the year with a new attitude, I hope that by the end of the year I am better for it 🙂

  11. There is something about being at the beach with the fresh air that is just so good for the soul. I dont get to the water nearly as much as I like to, one to add to the to do list this year me thinks!

  12. Just yesterday I flew back from a beachy holiday. I only go to the beach when i’m on a ‘set-beach-holiday’. It was amazing to be out just past where the waves break, floating over the top of them. It’s the best medicine.

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