Just Keep Digging
I always thought they looked like angel wings. Or tiny little butterflies. Multi-colored and perfect on the white sand. Glistening from the bath of sea water that rolled over them with each crashing wave.
Coquinas.
I vividly remember these miniature clams from my days collecting sea shells as a little girl. Isn’t it funny the things we remember or how a tiny shell can bring back a flood of memories? As I walked along the beach this morning after a tough workout, I saw them – millions of little coquinas fervently burying themselves back into the sand after the waves pulled their safe haven away.
I literally stopped in my tracks to stare at them. Hundreds of colors, hundreds of little oval-shaped creatures digging into the ground. No matter how many waves rocked them out of their burrow, they just kept digging. They never stop. They never give up.
This is not a lesson on clams or shells or beach tides, of course. But these little creatures reminded me how life wraps its arms around us and we continually grow and evolve. As a little girl on this same beach, I loved the coquinas that were open – clam gone, wings out, perfectly symmetrical and ready for my beach bucket (soon to be sorted and organized by color). Today, I much prefer the tightly closed little mollusk that keeps digging and digging no matter how hard the waves crash or how fast they pull him in. The one that is not beautiful, but who continues to dig deep and work hard. The one that refuses to give up against all odds.
Today, I prefer the little coquina that perseveres and works and works and works until there is nothing left to give.
Coquinas are small at about 10 to 25 mm (0.4 to 1 inch) in length, but they are mighty. They are fast and fervent. They are beautiful yet tough.
Inspiration. Perspective. Life lessons. They are all around us. Today, mine came in the sight of a million coquinas and the reminder of how far I have come. Be tough, be brave and never stop digging my friends.
Where have you found inspiration lately where you were least expecting it? Do you enjoy running on the beach? If so, barefoot or with shoes on?
Comments
Beautiful post.
I honestly have never heard of these things before, but surely I must have seen them in my thousands of beach adventures over the years. I absolutely love how you found that perspective in watching them fight. I do stuff like that all the time – especially after a hard workout – I think then is when your mind is most open!
Love to hate running on the beach. Best views and motivation ever but oh the sand and (usually) the slant!
The banked (slanted) surface is the worst. I’ve been doing more walking on the beach and running on the road mostly for that reason. There is a bike and walk/run lane for miles along the main road closest to the beach.
Beautifully written post! I love how nature can teach us so much. The little bunnies hopping all over my running trail remind me what a joy and a gift it is just to be outside and moving.
Thank you Laura! Oddly enough, since I’ve moved back to Florida I’ve seen bunnies on all my long runs. I even saw one down near the beach on Sunday. Hope your adjustment to your new city is going well. xoxo
Love this- well said. So relevant to us all I’m sure .
Love this. I do love the beach, and always find inspiration there.
Very well written, and almost poetic in descriptiveness !! Your writing is as good as your running.
Awe Mike! Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. My writing and running can always be better! xoxo
love it! i definitely just learned the benefits of not quitting and to keep digging 🙂 and, i’m not a fan of running on the beach- but if i do it- it’s with shoes on the more packed part of the sand.
Beautiful!!!
Beautiful post – I love those little shells too 🙂
Love love love this! I always find inspiration when at the beach. <3 Visiting for #FridaySharefest from #TBB!
I want to love running on the beach. I really do. But, I hate it. The slant is brutal! If I’m near the beach for a run, I try to cooldown with a walk on the sand instead. I’m SO looking forward to more of that once school gets out!
Allison, I really agree with you. The banked surface is brutal. I have been running on the road closest to the beach and doing a lot of barefoot walking after. I especially love walking around sunset. I’m going to try a yoga class on the beach this weekend, so I’m looking forward to that. xo
I used to collect those little creatures all the time during my summers at IRB! Great writing-this might be my favorite post!
Awe! Thanks Mel! Can’t wait to walk the beach with you and see some coquinas together. xoxoxo
i love running on the beach – but WITH shoes on!! So happy that you can run on the beach often!! Also – love watching those Coquinas dig n dig n dig!
I am a shoe runner too when it comes to beach running, Audrey. I learned the hard way several years ago when I went for a 4-mile run on the sand. Upon my return, my feet felt raw and I had two blood blisters on my toes. It hurt to even wear flip flops. Now I only walk barefoot 🙂 Happy running! xoxo
Never stop digging indeed! Great post…thanks for sharing via #TBB #LinkLove 🙂
What a beautiful reminder from God’s creation to never give up! I love this! I like walking on the beach at night with my husband. I don’t get to do it often enough though.