News From The Beach from Pug At The Beach

Chase Your Dreams

Diana Taylor — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:20:00 GMT

At the end of a very long road, bumpy and laden with hazards too many to list and capable of disabling the most seafaring of vessels, I took a chance and hitched a ride traveling another route to a different destination. One sweet deal later, I headed south.

I had, starting very early in life, for my entire life, lived deeply in a life that wasn’t really mine, immersed in an image of who I was, an image cultivated by others, by people who hadn’t a clue on how to direct their own lives much less mine. They said with alarming authority, “Diana you are this. Diana, you cannot do that. And good Lord child, you most certainly must not believe that.” Without effective tools, breaking free from that stranglehold was almost impossible. Almost.

I struggled with my lines, tangled as they were. I sailed in seeming circles until navigating by the stars came with relative ease. I questioned the necessity of brightwork. But in the end it all made sense.

Travel south on Ocean Boulevard (A1A) to this spot in Delray Beach.

And when it did, I took my life and ran. And while I’d like to say I didn’t look back, the truth of the matter is that I did – for a while, in the beginning. I don’t understand how, we as human beings, cannot look back even briefly.

Two years into my journey, I began to see a vision for my life that prompted me to look forward. Only forward. And all those old hurts and unfair judgments, they just slowly faded away, became invisible. Invisible. And I began to really chase my dreams as I'd never done before.

I'd given and given and then given some more. And while that may have been good for that time, back then, when life was different, it doesn’t flow smoothly anymore. Now my journey consists only of my adventures and how to create a life for myself that’s even better than it’s already been. And it’s a sweet life.

I live at the beach in a delightful cottage. My possessions are few, my friends are many. I’m on a spiritual journey now. I’m loving life, loving it deeply, for the first time in my life. I hang out at the beach and write my book. And I know deep within the fiber of my being that it’s only going to get better with each sunrise.

Sunrise at the beach is pure joy.

A while back, late into the night, I came upon a realization which had me questioning how much time I had left on this earth. As I contemplated whether to drive myself to the hospital or even I could even make it to the car, or the door to unlock it for an ambulance attendant, prudence got the better of me and I penned a quick note to my daughter.

In a telephone conversation earlier that day we’d been talking about our individual lives, our respective goals, and our dreams for our lives. Feeling compelled to offer one last (or so I thought at the time) piece of advice I scribbled a few thoughts in the pad I keep on my nightstand.

I love you, you’re a good kid, I’m proud of you, were the first things that came to mine but the most important I saved for last. Profound yet simple, it consisted of three simple words:

Chase your dreams.

I invite you, too, to chase your dreams. Without them you have nothing but a dull life adrift with tangled lines. If you feel trapped with no escape at least write them down and tuck them someplace for safe keeping. You’ll be surprised at how much power lies within this one simple act. It just might be the catalyst needed to send you down a new path, on a new journey to a richer and more joyful life.

<*)))><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

PugAt The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through theadventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, partJimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

Autographed copies now available.

Loretta Prescott of Kettle Boys Popcorn had this to say about Pug:

"Pug At The Beach is a long, rolling wave with a sweet curl, a lanky heron skimming the surface, an evening bonfire in the dunes, and that lazy, deep warmth you feel after absorbing the sun and salt air all day. Pug pushes us forward and leads us astray all at once, with purpose, dignity and big love."

Jennifer Thompson of Monkey C Media had this to say about Pug At The Beach:

"I have really enjoyed reading your book andmeeting Pug too!! I love the feel of your book, the paper, thestories, and the small pieces of quiet wisdom. The thing about thisbook, is that it's not overbearing, it's a happy nudge about reflectingon what's good in life."

For more information on using or buying Diana's photos visit:

ooLou ~ Resources for creative people.

Miracles

Diana Taylor — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:13:00 GMT

The sense of smell is a powerful thing capable of traversing decades to bring to the forefront memories of long ago.

Lately, here in South Florida, where December’s temperatures are reminiscent of late spring in New England, I’ve gotten a whiff of times, nearly 25 years ago, when I was a student at a small, private college far away from the place I now call home. A converted estate of one of the 20th century’s wealthiest men, the campus sat on the banks of a river and part of my yearly springtime ritual was playing hooky on the first warm spring day.

I’d take the day to sit by the water’s edge embracing the many olfactory delights: the smell of moist soil sprouting vegetation, breezes carrying the scent of budding trees and blooming flowers, and, of course, the aroma of the moving water, rich with its own blend of fragrances.

These days when I ride my bike around my town or over to the beach, I'm greeted with the scent of flowers. Last night a gentle breeze carried gardenia through my kitchen window. These scents have thrown off my internal smell-o-meter. It feels like spring to me right now and I find myself relating to springtime feelings and practices where Christmas normally resides.

Spring is a time of rebirth, of hope, and of possibilities beyond our wildest imaginations. Because I’m a little turned around with regard to seasons, I got to thinking…why can’t everyday, every season, be a time of rebirth, hope and possibility?

But how to do that? It’s simple really. Look for the smallest thing in your day and see the wonder and joy in it.

On my daily beach walks it’s common to find shells rather large in size. They’re easy to spot from a distance. Finding the smaller shells require more effort and determination.

Paper Nautilus shell found on Delray Beach.

The other day I found patches of beach covered with shell hash and within those millions of whole shells and fragments of shells I found these two; one perfect and the other perfect in its final design – a creation of another sea creature’s burrowing.

Shell hash on Sanibel Island. Auger shells.

In this small success lay (!) my motivation to continue. Finding one perfect shell was followed by another interesting find and another and another. That’s the way it is with success. One small accomplishment leads to another and another until one day life as a whole is one big success.

That’s the way lives are fashioned; successes going unnoticed until the accumulated whole takes shape. Just like shell hash on the beach. Or found treasures gathered together on an office desk.

Shell collection. Found treasures from the beach.

So here’s my wish for you: play hooky today even if it’s only for a few moments. Take inventory of your physical surroundings, inside or out, look for and find one small thing that is stunningly beautiful. Then examine that beautiful find and see in it the miracle of how it came to be. Think, really think about its origin and what physical and spiritual forces combined to create your newly found treasure. After that, apply those principles to your own life. What circumstances conspired to bring you to where you are today, in this moment? Step back, and see how many small miracles created your life on many different levels. You’ve come this far, you can go further. You can create miracles in your life. All you have to do is stop and look for those small shells, those small successes in the midst of all the others.

From the banks of an island river to the shores of Delray Beach, Florida, here’s wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

<*(((><

This piece was previously posted in December, 2008.
Copyright 2008 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Pug's Gift Giving Guide

Diana Taylor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:08:00 GMT

“On the many beaches Pug visited he always found a name left behind, its owner carving the letters with a stick in the sand or forming them with seashells or seaweed or sometimes with random lengths of driftwood cast ashore by the ocean. The discovery delighted his heart every time, but he wondered – why do people engage in this seemingly futile act when the tide simply and without fail, washed it all away? The island dog philosopher reasoned that all people crave immorality through a legacy whether material, philosophical, or simply through the carefree impermanence of a drawing in the sand, and besides, it was just a fun thing to do.”
~ Ebbing Legacies, from the new book, Pug At The Beach, Adventures From The Beach

As the holiday season approaches, we are often asked to contemplate previous year’s gifts either given or received. The purpose is as a testament to the importance of retaining holiday cheer through the understanding that gifts are not the end all and be all of the holiday. They are merely an embellishment of it.

With an absence of grandeur attached to a gift, say a new car with a big red bow attached to the hood, it becomes impossible to remember the gift your spouse gave you or even the gift you gave your spouse last year, never mind the exchanged gifts of two years ago.

And yet, as a society we obsess about the perfect gift…and the cost…and the presentation…and whether the recipient will appreciate our efforts. Intellectually we know this to be a truth, our truth, but we do it anyway. Like names drawn in the sand, old gifts become invisible with time.

Is there an answer? Well, no. The answer comes from within and individual circumstances, but there are suggestions. We can support local talent (every community has someone who's finding their way), give to the causes the gift recipient supports (anything from diseases to pet rescue), or tone down the gift itself by offering a gift certificate to lunch at a local restaurant (wouldn’t you love to go out to lunch and have someone else pick up the tab? I would!) Each of these gifts supports the economy while still holding true to the season. Each stands a greater chance of being remembered than, say, socks or a sweater.

It’s difficult to claim a new truth and even more difficult to stand up and declare that truth to family who may not be open to change. The bottom line is that our relatives don’t live in our lives. We do. They cannot feel the pain, emotional or real, in our schedule conflicted hearts. They do not feel our middle of the night money anxiety. Nor do they experience panic when pulling into the driveway of an inevitable replay of past family turmoil and tension which lies in wait behind gaily decorated doors. They may have their own version, and they probably do, but they cannot feel ours.

In all fairness, they may be justified in stating their preferences, one would hope in a respectful and loving way, but we alone make the decision to what’s right for us at this moment in our lives.

The absolute truth of it all is that life can be, and sometimes is, fleeting. Just ask anyone who’s experienced a terminal diagnosis or those who’ve experienced death close up through the hands of another. Then it becomes about the giving of one’s heart and the love that’s generated as a result.

Pug is right, we leave behind our names knowing they’ll be washed away with the tide, but we lovingly write those names in the sand just the same and we leave this legacy with a joyful heart because that’s what life and the season is all about – joy.

My wish for you this season is that you find your own path to joyful holiday giving whatever that looks like for you.

<*(((><

This post was originally published in November, 2008.

Copyright 2008 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, Delray Beach, Florida

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Miami Is No Cow Farm (Photo show)

Diana Taylor — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:37:00 GMT

I was in Miami last week. There with a friend for business, I couldn’t help but play tourist and take lots of photos.

As I was choosing which images I wanted to share in this piece, two things occurred to me:
I’ve lived in the country for far, far too long and I’m just a little bit of a dweeb as a result.

The skyscrapers I walked past last week were a very different image than Stonewall Farm, the cow farm that I drove by nearly every day when I lived in New Hampshire. And while I think cows are great, I love the buildings more.

I know my eldest daughter who is studying sustainable agriculture at Sterling College in northern Vermont might disagree, but man, those tall, sleek and reflective buildings were awesome. And I’ve reached an age where I don’t concern myself with how dweebish I might look standing on the sidewalk, looking up, while taking photos with my cell phone. Life is just too short to allow the wind to be taken out of my sails by what others think of me.

Before the photos, here are some quick facts about Miami courtesy of Miami for Visitors:

Miami was founded in 1896.
Henry Flagler brought the railroad to the city that same year.
The city is just shy of 2 square miles with an elevation of 12 feet.
2.4 million people live in Miami.
Miami is home to the world’s only Everglades eco-system made famous in Marjorie Stoneman Douglas’ book The River of Grass.
Miami has over 50 diveable wrecks making it the Diving Capital of the World.
The Art Deco District in Miami Beach has the largest collection (over 800) of Art Deco architecture.
There are over 150 ethnicities and over 60 languages in Miami.
Modern Bride ranked Miami #10 in the US for Best Honeymoons in 2004.

Big clock in front of a big building. Palms on top of a building.

Yes, that's a circle between those buildings. Colorful tents at Book Fair.

An old fashion fabric store. Wedding cake with bling.

Gotta love palm trees against a blue sky. Awesome building.

View from the Metro Mover, an elevated 4 mile (loop) mini train.

Gosh, that building is tall! Just look at the streetlamp in front of it. Down by the river.

Train stations.

A Cuban market and a Saint to protect pets.

Bijan's On The River. Great rum & coke. The view while sipping that drink.

Make it a beach day whatever that looks like for you!

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: all photos taken by Diana Taylor with an LG Dare cell phone camera.

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

Autographed copies now available.

Jennifer Thompson of Monkey C Media had this to say about Pug At The Beach:

"I have really enjoyed reading your book and meeting Pug too!! I love the feel of your book, the paper, the stories, and the small pieces of quiet wisdom. The thing about this book, is that it's not overbearing, it's a happy nudge about reflecting on what's good in life."

For more information on using or buying Diana's photos visit:

ooLou ~ Resources for creative people.

For more information on the places mentioned in this story:

Quick facts info provided by Miami For Visitors: http://www.miamiforvisitors.com/local/facts.htm

You can find information on Stonewall Farm, a non-profit farm and educational center, and also the site of my first book release party, here: http://www.stonewallfarm.org

Want to read more about sustainable agriculture? To visit Sterling College, which is located near the Canadian border in Vermont, click here: http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/A.location.html

Clouds

Diana Taylor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:46:00 GMT

Florida is called the sunshine state but we do have cloudy days. Here are just a few of the more interesting cloud formations I've seen

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: all photos by Diana Taylor.

For more information on using or buying Diana's photos visit:

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

PugAt The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through theadventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, partJimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

Autographed copies now available.

Jennifer Thompson of Monkey C Media had this to say about Pug At The Beach:

"I have really enjoyed reading your book andmeeting Pug too!! I love the feel of your book, the paper, thestories, and the small pieces of quiet wisdom. The thing about thisbook, is that it's not overbearing, it's a happy nudge about reflectingon what's good in life."

Trumpetfish

Diana Taylor — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:45:00 GMT

I hadn’t ever seen anything like it before; not in the movies, not in books, never - anywhere. So when I saw it lying on the beach, it was with a fair amount of caution that I approached the bizarre looking creature.

About two feet long, it was brown with stripes and spots that were astriking shade of electric blue, and it had a freakishly large orange eye whichblinked when I got close enough to touch it.

The trumpetfish is “Named for its long, thin snout and body to match, and is a relative of seahorses. Masters of camouflage, trumpetfish are usually mottled reddish brown—though some individuals may be yellow or green, with blue or purple heads—and can easily change color. They often swim vertically with their snouts down, which helps them to blend in with surrounding sea fans, pipe sponges and sea whips, thereby hiding from predators. Trumpetfish may exceed a meter in length, with the head representing about one third of that length.” (Information courtesy of MarineBio.org)

I had gone off the beaten path, walked longer and farther than usual to an expanse of beach that is, for the most part, free of people. That’s where I found the trumpetfish. And that’s where I find most of my really good stuff whether shells on the beach or ideas for a Pug adventure or a particular business strategy for promoting myself and the work I do, I find these things in the quiet places.

The quiet, meditative places provide a certain freedom to release all that is small allowing us to step into a concept of life which is larger, grander, and more true to who we are meant to be. The criteria for contemplative sanctuaries are as vast as the sea itself. What matters most is what works and the willingness to shift perspective as needed.

I invite you to explore your quiet places because it’s in those places you’ll find your joy. Scroll down for some great resources.

<*(((><{

© 2009 Diana Taylor, PugAtTheBeach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, trumpetfish on Delray Beach, Florida

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

Play! Enjoy these great resources:

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=114 Great site with lots of ocean information.

http://www.apture.com/view/EATbXCMVH5/ Video of trumpetfish.

http://www.happyandfree.com A couple sold their house, quit their jobs, bought a boat and sailed away. This is their story about following their heart and living their dreams.

http://www.lime.com/files/meditation_room/water_loader.html Background music for your quiet place. Stream or download to your ipod.

Believe In Yourself ~ Red Flags Flying

Diana Taylor — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:52:00 GMT

Her laughter filled the room. “That is just so you!” She was referring to the notepad clipboard and the Kooky Pen I had hanging in my shower.

As a writer I’ve come to accept that words and ideas come to me sometimes out of the blue and more often than not when I’m ill-equipped to jot them down. Long ago I made it a practice to be prepared because no matter how much I think I’ll remember a perfectly worded phrase that’s popped into my head, or how many times I repeat it aloud, I always forget it when pen finally touches paper.

A recent note, written after a particularly troublesome episode of contempt of boundaries by another, reads as follows:

“How does this red flag behavior fit into my vision for my life, company, etc?”

The answer, of course, is that it doesn’t unless the bond is intertwined and not as easily broken. Then it’s like the red flags warning beach goers of dangerous surf.

Sometimes a course of action includes simply taking necessary precautions and keeping eyes open. Other times more drastic measures are called for. The bottom line is awareness.

Just as we can shift our course when the beach flags fly, choosing to stay out of the water entirely or perhaps go in only ankle deep, so too can we shift our direction when emotional red flags fly. Observe, assess, and act accordingly. Accordingly and appropriately.

As it would be foolish to swim in wild waters, it’s just as foolish to endure behavior that doesn’t fit into the vision you hold for your life. Nobody has the right to mistreat or disrespect the dreams of another. Those that try are saying more about themselves than about us. Believing in ourselves first helps to keep an even keel when we’re navigating our intended course.

Believe in yourself. Hold fast to your vision. Never give up. You can do whatever you set your mind to. I know this to be true because I did it myself many times.

Here’s wishing you happy swimming in calm waters.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

Pugisms ~ Tidbits of Zen Wisdom

Diana Taylor — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:06:00 GMT

For the uninformed, Pugisms are tidbits of Zen Wisdom from Pug, the island dog philosopher.

If you don't know who Pug is, click here.

Originally, Pugisms were left page filler text for the Pug adventures in the first book.
(Click on the "book" link and Amazon will give you an insider's look into the first Pug book.)

Pug Adventures themselves are roughly 100 words of text in 3 sentences accompanied by an illustration of Pug. In the illustration Pug engages in the subject of the individual adventure. Sized to be comfortable reading, the right page adventures filled their space nicely. But the left page was a different story. All that white space cried out for attention.

Someone suggested I re-create on a smaller scale the Pug adventure on the facing page. Mirroring the image and philosophical message worked. The shorten version was dubbed a "Pugism."

From the beginning Pugims took on a kind of Proverb feel and were very popular. Over the years people have sent me their ideas for Pugisms or relayed inspirational stories of how Pug helped them, topped off with their own Pugism.

The idea for a weekly Pugism is not new, but now the time is right. The messages will relate to the adventures in the upcoming book which is just as much fun as the first book but in color!

If you can't wait for the new book, you can buy the first book through Amazon or if you want an autographed copy buy the first book through my website. And don't forget to fill out the section that tells me who you want the book autographed to!

Back to the Pugisms. Here are the first two. If you'd like to sign up to receive them in your email inbox you can do so in the column at the left.

The images and the way I've chosen to portray them here are a bit rough because I'm figuring it out as I go. The learning curve is steep at times especially on this 'ol right brain, but then this whole Pug adventure is not about perfection. It's about stepping off the cliff and growing wings on the way down. It's about chasing your dreams and not waiting for perfection. Leave perfection to those who like to be driven crazy by details. Embrace the adventure of life lived large and a wee bit on the unpolished side. Embrace Pug.

Pugism for the week of October 7, 2009

Pugism for the week of October 14, 2009

Make it a beach day whatever that looks like for you!

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach

Spread the joy of Pug At The Beach. Mindfully forward this to those who might need or enjoy it.

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Subscribe to Pugisms. Click image or scroll up to
top of column on left and look for Pugisms.

A Place Of Love

Diana Taylor — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:36:00 GMT

"With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world." ~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama

It wasn’t until I walked out of my neighborhood Publix Supermarket into the warm, South Florida night that it came to me. My links were broken.

I had been working steadfast all day to create a new store for the Pug At The Beach website. This involved many different aspects of web work all of which I hadn’t had a clue about just a short while ago, but I was determined to figure it all out. It was nose to the grindstone work and with each small accomplishment my spirits were buoyed.

I started with the smaller chores: creating an off-site store through Etsy (a member based community where handmade goods are bought and sold), writing the copy and uploading the Pug’s products.

Tahitian Delight bracelet from Pug At The Beach.

Following that came a task which required my undivided attention. With the potential to seriously muck things up, this part had the potential to be completely nerve wracking. This is the part that kept me from going to the beach. I couldn’t leave, not at this stage.

Then came the do or die part, the part where with one key stroke could undo countless hours work. With index finger hovering over an “Are your really sure you want to do this? Really sure?” button, I took a leap off a steep cliff and grew wings on the way down.

All went well. Except for the broken links. Some beach time followed by a quick run to Publix for a late supper seemed in order.

Reusable shopping bag in hand, I stepped out into the South Florida night. There was something in the Prussian blue sky and the way the twinkling halogen street lamps shone, that set into motion my deductive reasoning.

Almost without thought, from some subconscious part of my being, the answer I was looking for came into my conscious mind. My links were broken. And then, just as quickly, the instruction for the mend followed. Things flowed easily and effortlessly with the repair and the site was up and running smoothly is short order.

When I told this story to a friend, half in excitement in my accomplishment and half in testament that we each can do whatever we choose to do, she was not at all surprised at how the answer manifested.

“You were in a place of peace, a place of love.”

She was right. Stepping out into that warm, sultry night, I was stepping into my comfort zone, my comfort “home” if you will – the place that feels right and makes sense to me which, in turn, allowed me the freedom to relax which then opened the information channels.

And it seems I’ve stepped into this comfort zone many, many times since I began my life here. Before embarking on this journey, I made a vow ~ my life would “open up” once I got here. And it has. Perhaps it’s due in part to the fact that I’m home now or maybe it’s because I chose it to be this way; to be in a place of peace, a place of love where all my links are working smoothly.

I invite you to step into your place of peace and love and see what links you can create.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credits: All Etsy photos, Diana Taylor

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett and a whole lotta fun.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Photos From Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Diana Taylor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:30:00 GMT

I love Ocracoke Island!

Called "The Pearl Of The Outer Banks" it's the last inhabited island in this string of islands which lie 30 miles off the North Carolina coast.

Most of the island is designated as National Seashore which means its rugged charm is free of condos and billboards. Striking in its beauty, it makes my heart race just thinking about it.

Imagine my surprise when I received the following blog post from Ocracoke Island Realty's blog. These photos are submissions to the Realty's yearly contest for best photo of Ocracoke Island and they are wonderful.

Take 10 minutes right now, click on this link, and scroll through the photos. I promise you'll feel so relaxed when you get to the end.

Ocracoke Island Photos

Make it a beach day, whatever that looks like for you!

<*(((><{

Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He's part Dalai Lama, part Jimmy Buffett, and a whole lotta fun!

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA

For copy & paste:
http://ocracokeblog.com/2009/10/07/2009-photo-contest-entries.aspx

You Are A Creative Expression

Diana Taylor — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:27:00 GMT

The great thing about being artistically inclined is an inherent eye for fun. The creative person can take a normally boring object and tweak it until it becomes an invitation to linger.

It’s less about generating smiles or a sense of awe as much as it is about self expression.

Requiring a fair amount of self confidence or a blatant lack of concern for the finger wagging of others, the person who creates does so out of necessity. It’s only after the completion of a project, simple or complex, does all feel right with the world.

An entry gate. A house for rent. Both in Delray's Historic District.

From the dawn of time, conflicts of one sort or another have made their way into the universal consciousness. Trends and issues spike then fade from view. What remains are the creative expressions of a people. Whether paintings, sculptures, architecture, or the written word, these are the true measure of a people both as individuals and en masse.

And while the works of the masters will live on through eternity, art and creativity are not mutually exclusive. Blurring the lines between the two may send the purest into a tizzy, but it matters less the level of skill as does the desire to create in the first place.

In another life I was a stained glass artisan.

Creative expression is the voice by which we share our hearts. Many years ago I was a stained glass artisan working in abstract expression. With no distinguishable or recognizable designs, people viewing my pieces would be intuitively drawn to the piece which resonated in their heart as it first had in mine. I could always tell where people were in their lives by which pieces they chose as their favorite. This holds true even now with the Pug adventures.

Originally created on a whim while in Key West one winter, the Pug adventures morphed into a writing exercise and eventually became a book. The illustrations are secondary to the writing. They are simple line drawings, somewhat primitive, and yet a necessary part of the story as a whole. Are they art? That’s debatable. But what they are is creative, proving that even those with limited skills can bring into being a heart’s expression.

The new Pug At The Beach book.

My invitation to you is as follows: make your life your canvas, your work of art. Take the simple and ordinary things around you and turn them into creative expressions of who you are or what you strive to become. Be less concerned about how they will be received as how you’ll feel when you’re finished.

Look around you right now. Choose one thing and contemplate what you would do to or with it to make it more creative or fun. That simple act, just thinking about it, is creativity in itself and a bit of fun to boot.

You can do it! These folks glued a metal lizard to their mailbox.

Make it a beach day, whatever that looks like for you!

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, In And Around Delray’s Historic District

Pug At The Beach ~ Where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. He’s the Dalai Lama and Jimmy Buffett combined.

You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA.

Travels Around The World And To California

Diana Taylor — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:34:00 GMT

I’m amazed at the amount of traffic out on the ocean.

Sailboats, shrimpers, yachts, jet skis, kayaks. Having seen them all from this and other shores, I am most intrigued by the freighters that regularly pass by my beach.

Cargo ships off Delray Beach, Florida

In his book, Looking For A Ship, John McPhee “…provides the reader with stories and tales of modern seafaring life and the problems of making a living as a merchant mariner.” It is “…both an engrossing tale of the sea, with excellent detail and humanity, and a disturbing portrait of the merchant marine...” ~ RBI, Inc

It’s quite a different journey to read about freighters and the people who command them and to actually see the vessels out there on the horizon. It gives one a new appreciation of shoes and clothing and refrigerators and automobiles and just about any other consumer good which is made elsewhere and transported via the world’s seas. And while freight rides in tractor trailer sized containers, I can only imagine what it’s like for a person to travel aboard one of these cargo kings.

These really big ships are generally manned by a couple dozen crewmembers of various nationalities and, oddly enough, you can book passage on a freighter. Joseph P. Lenze, in a recent article for The Art Of Manliness, offers tips for travel by freighter based on his own 22 day adventure aboard the freighter, Punjab Senator, traveling from California to Singapore. Brief in comparison to McPhee’s version, it does provide interesting information for the curious who are hard pressed for time.

While Pug and I won’t be embarking on that kind of excursion anytime soon, we have recently completed a notable journey of our own.

Pug At The Beach, An island dog’s reflections on life, the book, is now available at the Claremont Center For Spiritual Living in Claremont, California. As stated on their website, the CCSL’s mission is to “provide a sanctuary of peace and to ignite the spiritual fire within everyone.” As a center for New Thought, it seemed like a perfect place for Pug.

Even though Pug has traveled the world and has readers as far away from his Florida beach home as Australia and Sweden, this marks Pug’s first adventure in California. We’re grateful to Pat Perkins who leads the good folks there at the CCSL for asking us to join them.

If you’re in that neck of the woods, make sure you stop in. You’re promised an insightful and enlightening time which may just take you to new and exciting places. The journey to one’s own heart and soul is just as exciting, if not more so, as travel on the world’s seas to far away lands.

I invite you to look inside today. Look into your heart and ask, “Am I living my life to the fullest?”

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

Pug At The Beach ~ where mindful living meets artful play through the adventures of a small island dog philosopher named Pug. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter and in Delray Beach, Florida, USA

The Beach Hunter, David McRee, Talks About His Paradise On Florida's Gulf Coast

Diana Taylor — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:37:00 GMT

David McRee is the author of Florida Beaches: Finding Your Paradise on the LowerGulf Coast, a guide to the beaches of southwest Florida. A third-generation Floridian, David is the creator of BeachHunter.net, and BlogTheBeach, a website and blog, respectively, both devoted to the unique beauty of the Florida Gulf Coast beaches. He has a broad knowledge of the native and exotic plants and animals of the Gulf Coast.

I asked David to write a guest post for Pug's News From The Beach. This is that post. I know you'll enjoy it. ~ Diana

If you look at a map of Florida, you'll see that with few exceptions all of the population centers are on the coast. In the state's early years settlers depended on boats to transport people, produce and goods, and they were involved heavily on the fishing industry.

But most of us living in Florida today didn't live during “the old days.” Modern population centers have developed near the coast because we love the beach and the coastal lifestyle. We use the beaches as a playground and as a place to rest, relax, unwind, recharge our batteries, and “get away from it all.”

I've often wondered what it is I love about the beach, and why it keeps calling me back. I believe it is so special to me, and to us, because it is the meeting of two worlds: the domesticated land, and the wild, unpredictable sea. There is something rejuvenating about standing at the edge of a vast untamed water wilderness, full of mystery and surprises. That our sun both rises out of and falls into the seas that surround us makes the beach all the more compelling.

Anna Maria Island photo by David McRee

It is only natural that our love of the beach fosters within us a desire to protect it. We are brought together as friends by our common goal of good stewardship toward our coast. We pick up trash, monitor turtle nests, count birds, rescue injured wildlife, study water quality, plant sea oats, and cast a critical eye toward coastal engineering projects.

If you love the beach, and if you want that love to grow and bear fruit; if you want to connect with others that share your love, consider reaching out to groups of like-minded people. Attend some of the events held by local organizations: a lecture, a beach clean-up day, or visit a coastal wildlife rehabilitation center.

Attend a birding festival, join a kayak club, or volunteer to help with a scientific project like the right whale monitoring project or sea grass planting. You'll be amazed at how you will deepen and develop your love of the beach. And it will all come back to you many-fold.

About David McRee: David is the author of Florida Beaches: Finding Your Paradise on the Lower Gulf Coast, a guide to the beaches of southwest Florida. You can find David on the web at BeachHunter.net and BlogTheBeach.com.

I encourage you to use your favorite search engine to find beach related activities in your area. ~ Diana
To read the piece I wrote for David's blog click here.

His Life Was Saved On The Beach

Diana Taylor — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:46:00 GMT

He was picked up on the streets of Miami. Alone, hungry, and afraid, I could only imagine what he had been through. Without the skills to process what had happened to him, the daily hardships must have been terrifying. And yet, he kept going.

Enduring one change after another, each more frightening and new and completely foreign, he hung in there. Maybe it was an inherent resilience. Maybe tenacity. Maybe he knew, just like I did, that there was something out there for him, someplace that he could call his own, that in spite of it all, life could be good again.

We found each other one Sunday afternoon. And after spending a few hours together, I invited him to come live with me.

His adjustment was relatively easy. Grateful for a warm bed, a roof over his head, and the love of a good woman, he was eager to please. We each taught the other about our lives. He taught me about patience and second chances. I taught him about trust and the beach.

The first time I took him out there, he was hesitant but willing to be in this place he had obviously never seen before. We walked down the sea grape lined path, the sand beneath his feet a foreign experience, until we reached the end where the sky and sand and sea extended for as far as his eyes could see.

Sea grape lined path to the ocean in Delray Beach, Florida

I truly believed his reaction would be joy. Instead what I heard was a long, deep sigh and he tucked his head into the crook of my neck. It was as if he was saying, “Please don’t make me do this.”

Every night we’d walk together down at the beach. Fifteen minutes on the sidewalk and fifteen minutes down by the sea. That was the agreement. He balked but was a good sport about it. He was willing to try new things. Eventually the time at the water’s edge grew. We’d sit there and meditate. Or talk. Well, I talked, he listened.

Those first few weeks, he was excited to leave the beach and get back home but after a while he grew to like it. He sat and looked at the sea. He explored the wrack line. We stayed longer each night. Maybe he got used to it. Maybe he was just eager to please me. Either way our time on the beach grew until one day a few weeks ago we switched roles.

After a long and productive day, I felt compelled to honor our nightly ritual but when I was ready to leave the beach, my pal didn’t want to go. After only a few months, he had grown to love the beach. He had taken a chance, tried something new, and grown to love it.

Now I ask you, if a 10 pound toy poodle can change, don’t you think you can too?

My pal Buddy

I invite you to look at the things in your life you’d like to change. If you think you don’t have the courage, willingness, or stamina to make those changes, think of my pal Buddy. If he can change his life so dramatically, shifting his outlook from fear to fun, you can too.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor Delray Beach, Florida, my pal Buddy

Follow Buddy on Twitter. He doesn’t post as often as I do. He’d rather play with his ball.

I adopted Buddy from Animal Aide in Boca Raton, Florida. He's been a joy. When adopting, patience, understanding, and information are the key.

The Conch Shell And Kenny Chesney

Diana Taylor — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:24:00 GMT

Before I lived in my house by the sea, I owned an old Victorian farmhouse built in 1860.

In its original condition, the staircase leading to the second floor was worn and dreary. The former owner had painted it an odd and uninspiring shade of brown. One winter I decided to change that.

Click on this image to listen to Kenny's The Key's In The Conch Shell while you read.

The transformation included teal green steps, pink risers and 14 conch shells, one for each step. And while the entire house was a tropical respite from the long and cold New England winters (which start in October and run through May) the steps were its most vivid feature.

The conch (pronounced konk) is the symbol for island living. Whether eating the meat, using the shell as an instrument in music or ceremonies, or, as Kenny Chesney does, hiding a house key in a conch shell, the conch shell represents sunny days, turquoise water, and freedom. Its history is rich and long.

“The queen conch fishery dates back to the pre-Columbus period of the Arawak and Caribe Indians. These early civilizations utilized the shell as a horn for religious ceremonies, for trade and ornamentation, as well as for bracelets, hairpins, and necklaces. Archaeologists have also found remnants of conch shell pieces that were used as tools, possibly to help hollow out large trees used as canoes. The tasty meat was a source of protein not only for the early civilizations, but also for the incoming European settlers. The new settlers would eat the conch meat raw, marinate it in vinegar for salad, fry it, or dice it for chowder and conch fritters. The conch meat was sold all over the Florida Keys and soon became a symbol of the history and the culture.” ~ from Save The Conch.org

Whatever they’re used for, conch shells are just plain fun. What follows are a series of links into various fun conch adventures. Each is more unique and interesting than the last. Take a few minutes now to fill your “play” quota for the week by clicking on each one. Then, share the love and forward them either individually or this blog post as a whole.

And in case you’re wondering, no, I don’t hide a spare key in a conch shell.

The last of the original “step” conch shells. I gave the others away.

Kenny Chesney, Keys In The Conch Shell ~ my new favorite song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f08Qa4O6f0

Listen to the Conch Shell horn:
http://www.conchking.com/Horns-Sounds.htm

The Magic Conch Shell Rap by Sponge Bob Square Pants (this one’s for you Loretta):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiVxrqdVys0

In Key Largo a group of people attempted to break a record for the most conch blowers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hIxbHyRpTM&feature=fvw

The history of the conch from Save The Conch:
http://www.savetheconch.org/history.html

Conch shells in Buddhism:
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/conch.htm

Kenny Chesney’s website (this is a very well done site and worth a visit)
http://www.kennychesney.com/home.php

Make it a beach day whatever that looks like for you!

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor Conch shell and statue out in the yard

Create prosperity. Share these great resources by forwarding this to the people on your email lists.

Want to know my thoughts on love, island living and how a cancer diagnosis prompted me to pursue writing as a career? Listen here:
http://www.inspiredbysteve.podbean.com

Here’s the story behind how I came to live in South Florida and what makes me laugh:
http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meet-your-neighbor-diana

Visit my other site:

ooLou ~ A resource for creative people needing assistance with their artistic expression. ooLou.com offers photography, writing, editing, and coaching. www.ooLou.com my other site:

Perfect Shells ~ Interviews with Steve Gamlin & The Coastal Star

Diana Taylor — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:47:00 GMT

There’s always an abundance of activity at the beach.

Sometimes when I’m casually walking the at water’s edge, I look down and there’s the most perfect shell right at my feet. The harmony of it all is simply magical. It’s then that I become aware of exactly how blessed I am. This week I have two perfect shells of a different kind to share with you.

Steve Gamlin is a professional speaker, stand up comic, and writer. His new book, 20 to Life – In a good way! is a straight forward instruction manual on how to add positive energy to your life. Just like my book, 20 to Life is a little book that packs a big punch. (Little books rock the world!) Steve also hosts Inspired By Steve, Minutes of Motivation, a series of podcasts designed to motivate, educate, and inspire. Recently Steve and I sat down for a conversation. Click on this link to listen to our shared wisdom on life and while you’re there check out some of the other great things Steve is doing.

“A community of neighbors celebrating life along the shore.” That’s how The Coastal Star newspaper describes us beach folks. A relatively new addition to the community, The Coastal Star is a delightful resource for everything beach related for the island communities in my neck of the woods of South Florida. Whether you’re local or would like to be, check out The Coastal Star, in print and online. Click on this link to read a profile of me in their September 2009 issue.

Create prosperity. Share these great resources by forwarding this to the people on your email lists.

Inspired By Steve: inspiredbysteve.podbean.com

The Coastal Star: thecoastalstar.ning.com/profiles/blogs/meet-your-neighbor-diana

Pug At The Beach, The Official Site: www.pugatthebeach.com

Pug’s Blog ~ Pug’s News From The Beach: www.pugsnewsfromthebeach.com

ooLou ~ A resource for creative people needing assistance with their artistic expression. ooLou.com offers photography, writing, editing, and coaching. www.ooLou.com

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach

Little Latitude Slide Show ~ Photos From The Beach

Diana Taylor — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:37:00 GMT

Last week I played hooky. Instead of working at Pug At The Beach, I visited a local zoo, went shoe shopping, and hung out at the beach. My youngest kid was here last week for a visit, her last before going off to college this week. If you'd really like to read a story, click on any of the previous entries from the main menu. They're all timeless in nature. Otherwise, enjoy this compilation of photos from previous posts.

Make it a beach day, whatever that looks like for you!

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

Visit my other site:

A resource for creative people needing assistance with their artistic expression.
Photography. Writing. Editing. Coaching.

My In The Eye Surfboard

Diana Taylor — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:47:00 GMT

I have a surfboard. It’s an In The Eye, 6 footer, with fixed fins, and I got it in a game of chance.

In The Eye surfboard by Natural Art

I was betting that the guy who crashed into my car out on that isolated beach road didn’t have adequate car insurance so I negotiated his surfboard as a marker. Turns out I was right.

Ignoring his scornful expression as he assessed the damage to both cars, (and, I was to later to find out, his lack of both car insurance and a bank account) I followed my intuition by asking for the board. I reasoned how he responded to my request would determine the level of his coverage. He gave me the board willingly. And while his coverage had indeed lapsed only two days prior, his insurance company honored the claim and fixed my car.

Sometimes you just have to play the game by your own rules. It’s not necessarily about asking for forgiveness after the fact, it’s about creating a new way, forging your own path within the confines of mindfulness.

Path to the ocean on Hatteras Island, NC. Turn around and you’ll see The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.

Equally important is to ignore criticism especially if it’s not constructive.

When I decided to leave my home of nearly 25 years and go explore someplace unknown, unfamiliar, and do it all alone, some people criticized me, discouraged me, and tried to frighten me into staying. But that’s not how you win. You don’t win by playing your game by someone else’s rules. You make your own rules.

And you play to win.

A while back I happened upon a documentary on race car driver Dale Earnhardt. America’s darling, Earnhardt proved that ordinary, blue collar folks could play at life and win big.

Someone interviewed, whether it was friend or competitor I don’t remember, said,

“Dale played the game by his rules and he won every game.”

I was so stuck by the forthrightness of that statement that I jotted it down and read it everyday for a good long time. To the quote I added the following words,

“Play Dale’s way.”

And I did. I do. With mindful consciousness, I play my game my way. I tolerate only respectful, like minded people who walk in love and respect. And I do the same in return.

Today I invite you to be bold in your own game of life and win your game by playing according to your own rules.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

For copy & paste:
http://www.surfintheeye.com/intheeye/ (In The Eye blog)
http://www.outerbanks.org/accommodations/hatteras_island/index.asp (Hatteras Island info)
http://www.graveyardoftheatlantic.com/ )Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum)
http://www.daleearnhardtinc.com/content/home.aspx (Dale Earnhardt site)

Visit my other site:

A resource for creative people needing assistance with their artistic expression.
Photography. Writing. Editing. Coaching.

Rip Currents

Diana Taylor — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:19:00 GMT

Rip currents have the power to lure people to their death. It’s not so much act of deceit, if you’ll allow me to personify this act of nature, but a false sense of our own powerlessness that gets us.

According to the National Weather Service rip currents form...

“As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they will break near the shoreline. When waves break strongly in some locations and weakly in others, this can cause circulation cells which are seen as rip currents: narrow, fast-moving belts of water traveling offshore.”

Furthermore, they say,

“Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers. They are particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers. Rip current speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second. However, speeds as high as 8 feet per second have been measured--this is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! Thus, rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea.

Over 100 drownings due to rip currents occur every year in the United States. More than 80% of water rescues on surf beaches are due to rip currents.

Rip currents can occur at any surf beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.”

But we are not powerless over the rip currents. We can “Break The Grip Of The Rip.” Here’s how:

Yeah, it's a big picture, but I wanted you to be able to read it.

I’ve never been caught in a rip current, mostly because I’m not a strong swimmer so when I do go out into the ocean, I stay close to the shore, near people, near the lifeguards, and I take notice of the warning flags that fly on protected beaches.

My understanding is that a calm head is in order when caught in a rip current. To break the grip of the rip, we must remain level headed and swim parallel to the shore. Admittedly, keeping calm is easier said than done but in doing so we can alter the situation to our benefit.

In any 12 step program usually associated with overcoming an addiction of some sort, the first rule for success states: “We admit that we are powerless over…” whichever issue with which we struggle.

I take exception to that. Just like in a rip current we are NOT powerless! We have the power to do whatever it is we choose. We can choose to declare we are powerless or we can choose to embrace our own personal power.

In my daily reading of New Thought philosophy, I find these words:

“We admit that we are personally empowered to improve our lives.”

With a slight tweak, one sentence can shift from powerless to empowered, from hopeless to hopeful. Semantics? Maybe so, but with the commanding nature of words, why not make them supportive, working for us instead of reiterating that which we fear.

We are personally empowered to improve our lives.

It’s only when we panic that we get tired, frustrated, and ready to give up whether in the ocean or in our lives. Should we find ourselves at a seeming loss to create more fruitful lives, perhaps a slight shift of perspective is in order. Perhaps we need to swim parallel to the shores of our lives. We do indeed know how to break free of the mental grip of despair, confusion or frustration. We are merely without the understanding, the instruction, the knowledge to harness that power, our power, the power that resides within.

Regardless of the chosen philosophy, western, eastern, conservative, or liberal, it all starts with these words:

We are personally empowered to improve our lives.

I invite you to take the above words, write them down on a slip of paper and tuck them into your pocket. And when you need a little encouragement, take them out and read them aloud. To this I add,

Accept the power and use it willingly and responsibly.

You can do anything of your choosing. You can make your dreams come true because

You are personally empowered to improve your life.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor

For copy & paste:
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/overview.shtml (National Weather Service ~ this is a great site with lots of info.)
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/index.shtml (National Weather Service ~ Break The Grip Of The Rip.)

How Did That Happen? Cliffs Or "Scarps" On The Beach

Diana Taylor — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:54:00 GMT

It’s funny how sometimes things can change so quickly. One day life is going along in its usual fashion and the next thing you know you turn around and wham, things are completely different.

That’s the way the beach is. Literally. One day it’s flat with little or no distinguishable features and the next day huge sand cliffs have formed and you ask yourself, how on earth did that happen?

Those cliffs in the beach are called scarps. They’re the result of rapid erosion and usually happen within one tidal cycle. Stiff winds and strong longshore currents are responsible.

Scarps on Delray Beach, Florida.

And while they are a major change in the landscape of the beach, they also add an interesting dimension. Visually they're really cool. They travel for long distances and vary in heights. I've seen some at two to three feet tall and because of this, you really have to watch where you’re walking or you could fall off one.

The same holds true for the changes in life. It's essential to take care not to fall off the cliffs of change but at the same time we must remain mindful of the interesting dimensions the new condition brings to us.

Today I invite you to look at change in a different way. Take a moment to examine it from a different angle. It just may provide you with something really interesting to ponder, perhaps a discovery that will add to your personal evolution.

<*(((><{

Copyright 2009 Diana Taylor, Pug At The Beach
Photo credit: Diana Taylor, Delray Beach, Florida, 2008

For copy & paste:
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/glossary/l_n/longshore_current.html (longshore current, simple illustration)
http://faculty.gvsu.edu/videticp/longshore.htm (longshore & beach drift, detailed explanation)
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/CoastalHazards/Default.aspx?PageContentID=200&tabid=436 (longshore & rip currents)

Info from Florida’s Living Beaches, A guide for the curious beachcomber By Blair and Dawn Witherington