Isn’t it funny how standing at the beach makes you feel so small, yet so free? Breathing in the salty breeze and out the worries of everyday life, Scott and Betti were eager to conquer the sea. “Are you ready?”

 

“It’s so still today,” Scott said, not able to hide his disappointment. He loves when nature shows its power, when the waves are higher than houses. You know Scott already, he wants a challenge and calm paddling is not quite his thing. “Let’s go, what are you waiting for?” Betti was already by the water. “The waves,” he mumbles, but not loud enough for his surfing partner to hear. He is not a mood killing type. Scott started running towards the water,  feeling the soft sand under his feet. It was cold. The sun had barely started peeking over the horizon. 

 

Chatting about small things and joking whether they should try some surf yoga to greet the sun, they let the calm waves carry them away from the shore. As the sun came up, everything was painted golden. No big waves in sight, still, just some boring baby ones to catch for the heck of it, but what was that over there? 

 

An island? Our pair had no idea there was an island so close to the beach. Usually avoiding going too far out, they couldn’t help but pick up the pace. It seemed relatively close, didn’t it? They could make it in a matter of minutes. Actually, if it was this close, how come they hadn’t noticed it earlier, already from the beach? It’s as if it appeared out of nowhere. 

 

“Oh wow!” they reached the island, packed with thick trees and lined with white sand. “Is this paradise?” Betti laughed. They left their boards resting against a tall tree and took a walk, conversation now getting deeper and more meaningful than earlier small talk and jokes. They talked and listened, until the problems they had when waking up that morning seemed insignificant and the only thing left was joy, hope and motivation. And calmness. They walked and talked until the sun was high above them. And until Scott got hungry. “We should go back,” he said, already thinking about a raspberry smoothie.

 

Back at home beach, they put away their boards and changed into comfortable clothes, ready to tackle the day. The beach was now full of people and as they made their way to the car, they met a guy working at the local surf shop, stopping to have a chat. “I wish I’d known about the island before, dude, why haven’t you ever recommended it?,” Scott asked. “What island? I’ve lived and worked here my whole life. There are no islands nearby.” Our surfers described how the rather boring attitude of the sea made them find an island instead, and how the beauty and calmness of it overwhelmed them. “You should go there the next time you’re out,” Scott suggested. The guy smiled and looked out to the sea. “It sure sounds like a great place, but your inner peace is only yours to visit.”