Often, in our lives, we never realize how the world around us is affected by our actions. We frequently do not see clearly the messages that can be found from everyday aspects of life. The beach can teach many valuable lessons, all you have to do is see them.

Sand.

From sand we can learn how we find our place in the world. As a single grain, or a single person, it may seem that we don’t amount to much, but when put together with others, they create something solid. A whole beach, just as a whole universe is made up of billions of small pieces. Sand can teach us that we may be small, but together we can change the world.

Surfing.

While it may come easier to some than others, surfing teaches a very valuable life lesson. Learning to surf, rather, shows how some things take practice and perseverance. It may not be easy at first, as many aspects of life are hard, but with hard work and dedication, you can produce a beautiful result. More often than not, the reward is worth the effort, as there is no greater thrill than catching your first wave and quickly coming to your feet after hours of trying.

Waves.

The ocean is among the most unpredictable of all of Earth’s matter. It is prominently mysterious and unknown to us. The ocean may have huge, crashing waves one minute and slow swells the next. It is impulsive and random in this way. Although this may be the case, there is a constant that comes along with the ocean, just as in life. Often throughout a lifetime it may seem that you are on a random path with no plan. You may encounter people who you would have never guessed would make a lasting impression, but they do. And you will undoubtedly find people who you thought would be there forever, but aren’t. The ocean and life are full of surprises, but the greatest lesson that the waves can teach you is that no matter how bad life may seem, the waves will always keep crashing and life will always go on.

Shells.

When you’re walking along the beach, especially after a big storm, the shore is loaded with thousands of pieces of different shells. A bright pink and red shell may catch your eye, and as you come closer, you see that it is broken. Discouraged at first, you may set it back down, only to come to still marvel at its beauty and soon realize that you want nothing more than to keep the broken shell despite its imperfection. In this way, shells are just like people. Whether they are whole or broken, to the right person, they still remain beautiful, as beauty is not only external, but internal as well. A shell can teach you a valuable lesson: perfection is not real, and that beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

Fishing.

Going fishing can teach the value of working for something. In a world that has access to almost anything at the touch of a button, fishing reminds its user that not everything comes without effort. With fishing, one can learn patience by waiting for the line to get a bite. It can show the reward of a first catch and the injustice of the world when the line snaps. Fishing shows people that life will not always deal out a fair hand, but hard work and patience will always pay off.

Depth.

The ocean relates a great deal to the people you will meet in your life. While some days you may feel alone, the ocean can keep any secret you tell it, just as a true best friend. While other times, the ocean can serve as the evil in the world, betraying you at your weakest moment. The depth of the ocean can teach you that both good and evil are prominent in our world. And just as the ocean does, there are people that are capable of creating both life and death. The complexity and uncertainty of the ocean reminds us that we never really completely know the people we surround ourselves by and that people will never cease to surprise us.

Sandcastles.

As a child, you more than likely made your fair share of sandcastles. You slaved in the hot sun for hours to make the perfect fortress for the sand critters. As the tide rolls in, your sandcastle’s barriers slowly start to erode, despite your best efforts. Water hits the side of the walls and the sand crumples beneath it. This teaches you that sometimes in life, as hard as you may work at saving something, there will be times when it doesn’t work out. In life, nothing lasts forever and the best lesson you can learn from this is to appreciate what you have and never take it for granted because you never know when it can be taken from you.

Beauty.

Sometimes, the beach can teach you the humblest lesson of all. Sometimes it is important to step away from the fast-paced, busy life and fall back to the modest sounds of nature and serenity. As you sit on the sand, letting it form to your body, listen to the waves crash, watch the sunset and hear the birds chirping, you learn that there is beauty in simplicity.