Patience is not only a virtue; it is a form of grace. – Unknown
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It’s about the same size as the continental United States. It is also 50% larger than Europe yet it has the lowest population density in the world.
There are an average of eight people per square mile giving Australians more living space per person than the inhabitants of any other nation. This continent spans three time zones. A great diversity of climates and landscapes are displayed in some of nature’s finest works. From desert plateaus in the west and center, tropical rainforests in the north and north-east, to fertile plains and alpine forests in the south-east. Australia could take a lifetime to explore. We have a month.
We knew when we arrived that we needed space and time to get our family centered. Every time we looked up camper vans or huge sweeping tours of this vast land, we felt resistance. We wanted to settle down for a few weeks but we didn’t have the courage to give ourselves permission to be rather than do. Finally after subconsciously creating obstacles for ourselves; meetings, work engagements, coughs and sniffles, we knew we needed to step back. We sat down together and decided what we really needed was time to just be. For our family, the beach is the place we can all catch our breath and find inspiration.
Australia’s coastline stretches almost 31,000 miles and is linked by over 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world. More than 85% of Australians live within 30 miles of the coast, making it an integral part of every day life.
Since we are based in Sydney for the month, we decided to explore the world renowned New South Wales coastline. From the Barrenjoey Lighthouse walk at Palm Beach, to the whitest sand in the world at Jervis Bay, we walked. We walked the Manly Scenic Trail and the explored the cliffs flanking Bondi Beach. We packed peanut butter and jelly, flip flops, and maps and we just went walking.
The Aboriginal people have a history of going on “walkabouts.” In the simplest terms it means a walk away from the every day routines and into the wilderness to find ones center. Historically, it referred to a right of passage into adulthood; for us it was a passage of sorts into the present moment using nature as our portal.
The point is, the experience we desire can only come up to meet us when we are not trying or forcing it to happen, but rather imagining it as a possibility. If we can’t imagine it from where we stand, we know we must patiently pause, breathe, and rest until the percolation begins. Only then are our actions met with our wildest dreams taking shape before us. The only thing that gets in our way is ourselves.
We know when we are in the right place because there is tremendous ease and that is usually the most unnerving aspect; accepting that we are deserving of ease, and letting grace flood our experience.
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