Keep your eye on the ball..

Beach sceneries. As the season moves on, gradually more holiday goers occupy their favorite places. Some will come fully equipped to install themselves on spots, the coördinates of which are only known to the leader of the expedition. There are families, pairs, singles, groups. A clear average of societal primary grouping. Interesting observation work for a sociologist on leave. For a free Zanderling like me, they are all strangers, settlers on sand planes, caught in odd prejudice, that a beach is made for sitting and lying in a burning sun. Parasol or not, running for a swim, it does not make any difference.

As you will have read in this Journal: a Zanderling is Walking up and down along the surf. There can be a moment to rest and gaze somewhere halfway or where the sea ruffling or the blues are too overattractive. But apart from the Swimming Break there is Walking, all kinds of Walking in fact. With one exception: no overactive Nordic or Fast Walking. Certainly no Running or Jogging, which are all ways of instrumentalization of the body, moving through space, not modes of Being.

Zanderlings may stroll without clear direction, as long as the Surfline is mainly followed. You may wander around in search for Shells, to follow a Crow, some Gulls, or try to photograph swarming Terns. But any goal oriented motive for going this or that way is out of the game. What counts is breathing, enjoyment, amazement, relaxing, feeling connected to your Hara, losing sense of time, as said: Being in the Here and Now with full Attention, looking around, opening all senses in the ten (thousand) directions. And of course there is Room for Sitting in Meditation or do some Yoga Dance. But never forget: a Zanderling is walking along the sea.

And finally, there are a thousand ways to play and meet as children do, building sand castles, or digging useless holes, running to the sea with small buckets, to fulfill imaginary tasks, playing around with balls, dogs, dogs and balls. A Free Zanderling is playing while (s)he walks. Playthings are to be found at the surfline. Doing Nothing is perfectly well. But leave your bike back in the dunes.

And if it is your day of arrival and you Must see and feel that endlessly moving sea, you don’t need to bring swimming suits with you. Just walk with the whole family over the sands until you reach your Place to Be: with the dog & the ball and the kids. Frommel your dress up in your underwear to keep dry. And just Gaze, Stare, Look, let the kids run to & fro, throw the ball for DoggyBoy. He loves the wetting waves and plays. Enjoy these days.