Ocean’s Calm – Weekly Photo Challenge: Relax

“Remember the time to relax is when you don’t have time to relax.”

Sidney Harris

PAUSING TO REFRESH

This week’s challenge is a timely one as many of us scurry about trying to get ready for the holiday season. As I thought about relaxation I recalled a scene I photographed this past summer. The woman on the pier had stopped whatever she was doing to enjoy a peaceful moment on the waters of Bandon Oregon as the sun set to her right and the lighthouse created a lovely silhouette to her left.

OCEANSIDE PICNIC

Like the woman in the first photo and the couple above, I too find a visit to the beach is a guaranteed form of relaxation. There, the scents and sounds of the ocean’s calm are all I need to make stress and worry disappear. While I am very fortunate to have Kiawah’s beautiful beach just a few steps from my home, I’ve chosen instead to include some scenes I shot this past summer along the rocky shores of Bandon, Oregon.

TINY PEOPLE

“Just relax and enjoy the magnificence of life.”

Debasish Mridha

Clearly I am not alone in being drawn to the ocean’s calming effects, as illustrated in several of today’s captures. For example, if you look closely above, you can see two very tiny people walking just beyond the massive rocks.

ROCKS AND FLOWERS

To have a restful mind is to relax in your nature.”

Gyalwa Dokhampa

Here again we see two beachcombers strolling along the waters’s edge, this time with an even tinier little dog running ahead. What is it about the lapping waves and the warm sand that takes us so far from life’s daily challenges to a place of peace and contentment? I’ve heard it said that in theory our evolution from sea to land-based creatures makes us yearn for the world of our roots – who am I to argue with that one?

BEACH VISTA

“If you have to think about relaxing, are you really relaxing?”

Janice Thompson

My husband and I, along with two very good friends, were in Bandon to play golf at the beautiful Bandon Dunes resort. It’s a bit of a mecca for serious golfers and as such doesn’t have much else to offer 😀 (although we did find some terrific meals at local restaurants!) .  A good friend and golf buddy who recently left Kiawah for Sonoma California, recommended that we check out nearby Face Rock State Vista, which as you can see, was a wonderful suggestion.

LIGHTHOUSE

“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.”

Bryant McGill

 Golf is a challenge that requires serious concentration, especially when played in the 30-mile-per-hour winds for which Bandon is famous.  What a welcome respite it was to unwind with a scenic walk in a beautiful place with no thought of whether a little white ball would ever get into a tiny little far-away cup! Happily it does not take any level of talent, skill or focus to enjoy an evening stroll along the ocean’s edge.

LAST LIGHT

“Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but also to metabolise and embed learning.”

Malti Bhojwani

After our full day of golf, a delicious dinner and our evening walk, we returned to our hotel revitalized and rejuvenated, and ready to face another day’s challenge on the links. Somehow as winter creeps in and holiday chores become more pressing, a brief photographic stroll through summer’s warm memories is every bit as good as a hot cup of tea and some beautiful music – which is where I’m headed next!

Here’s wishing you all a relaxing week ahead. If you have an extra moment, drop in a comment to let me know how you like the new Travelsandtrifles format.

 

Tags: weekly photo challenge

• December 3, 2016
• Beach, Golf, Landscape, Nature, Oregon, Photo Essay, Photography, Travel
• 85 Comments