DocAtTheBeach: Turning One Has Been So Fun!
A MILESTONE MOMENT
When was the last time you had fun, actually? For everyone’s sake, I hope the answer flashes in full colour before you. Like a polaroid camera that sees, shoots, and then stamps that special moment in front of you, a positive past memory can also inject another dose of playfulness when we conjure it up and relive it in the present. If you need to reach into the recesses of the past to find a fun time, that’s ok too. Though when I’ve had those types of lulls in life, I know I definitely notice that things seem to sparkle a bit less.
This post marks the one year anniversary for DocAtTheBeach, and as I reflect back on the 53 Fridays that have passed since my launch on July 11th 2023, the word that sums it up is fun! This all began as a small seed some folks planted saying ‘you write well and have cool experiences, you should write a book’ … that one kernel has now turned into the popcorn of this blog. Whether its been sweet, salty or with a bit of a kick, I hope these offerings have been pleasantly palatable for you.
DocAtTheBeach has covered only a small sliver of the special scenes I’ve seen. One day, I hope to highlight my one year volunteer mission in Afghanistan, diving in Maldova or beaching in Bermuda, how I sutured my own leg dirt biking then hiking Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, and to relay the absolute awe of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
I have vivid vignettes of how it felt to see humans dangle from trees so they could catch a glimpse of a performer in Tajikistan, the rapport it took to have the local ladies in rural Pakistan attend for prenatal care, the stories and social context of the public health projects within Mumbai’s Deonar dumping ground and, the story of how I had to fracture this baby’s arm to help him get unstuck and be safely delivered during my time with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in Congolese refugee camps. Perhaps one day, it’ll take the form of a book … but for now, it’s here - and I’m happy you’re here with me!
For those that’ve followed through all the Fridays so far, merci mucho. Each week, the snapshots were invitations not only to share the stories from that stint, but also, as a mirror into what the current moment is welcoming us into. Six months ago, I began Connecting Routes as way to celebrate the connections in the wants and wonders in the world. Every first Friday of the month, it showcases synergies and similarities across certain societies and perhaps offers new ways to approach the ways in which we wander globally and locally.
I hope that these past posts had tiny tidbits that lingered as an invitation to pause and percolate - whether it was the legs in Canada, Germany, Qatar, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ethiopia, Angola, DRC, Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, The Solomon Islands or Samoa.
As I look at the year in review for the blog, here’s some of my fav photos, a video that lit up the night on the beach, and a quote that moved me:
The beach beckons my toe rings. Little and luxury homes decorate the strip. I walk towards an old traditional fishing boat, singularly stamping the horizon as a trademark landmark. Faded bold colours rouse my imagination as the tethered boat rocks to the ocean’s tune. Joseph 1:9 is tattooed on its side – adding context, character and circumstances to the scene unfolding in my mind’s eye, easily imagining the many moments with the elements that this inscription inspired and rocked its inhabitants to ease – “God Will Answer”. No doubt.
I’m a big believer in the lessons and luxury that the beach affords. To me, it reminds me of our elemental being, the cyclical nature of the ebb and flow of life, those precious famjam beachside moments, the dreams of our castles and the reprieve and rejuvenation that freely flows as a gentle breeze blows, often in its wake whispering aloud that wisdom that’s tucked inside.
As the sun shines on this hot summer day, I let the stressors of life melt. After all, why wait till the end to safeguard time to do that which fills our being? Regardless of our age, stage, the dips or upticks of the ride, life is meant to be joyful - and loaded with real fun. Yes, it’s easier to do it while we’re away on vacay, but in the throngs of to dos, there’s a sweet spot between subjective wellbeing and leisure time. It might surprise you that research shows that we should soften and let loose for two hours/day. I’m working on being more time affluent and hope that we all can soon safeguard spots on our schedules for rejuvenation. In the meantime, perhaps we can try a new fruit when we shop, visit ten nearby green spaces, play a new board game, paint by numbers or puzzle, learn a few lines in another language or lines to a song that’s got a good message … or, any other ideas that include a personalized plan to sprinkle in a bit of pizazz.
What do we need to do to find and focus on the stuff that keeps us in flow? Surely, there’s no point in masquerading faux-fun when there’s the payout of increased resiliency, offloading stress and getting a step closer to feeling, living, being #mybestlife
For me, DocAtTheBeach has been a weekly commitment to have permission to carve out time to have some solid fun - I hope it’s given you a little lens into the lives and lands of another. Perhaps it’ll inspire you to set/achieve your own ‘fun goals’ too. If travel is one of them, I hope this blog will continue to offer ideas and inspiration for your next stop - even if that’s on the couch, reading along!
Deep gratitude again for enabling this milestone of my blog’s one year anniversary <3
May the milestones this week enable even more joy to overflow in the mundane and in those moments where we really (stick out tongues out and) let loose!