Top 10 2013 – #1 Went to the Beach

Top 10 Instagrams of 2013: #1 Went To The Beach

By Rowena Mynott

As 2013 starts to wind down its a good time to reflect on the year that has just passed and the year that is to come. I have obviously been in a reflective mood recently as last month I decided to start a monthly ‘Taking Stock‘ routine: pausing life for a few moments to realise what you are happy and thankful for right in that very moment. Right now as I sit here and look through my images from 2013, I embrace the good and the sad, the ups and the downs and the growth that has taken place. This year has focused on family: Visits and holidays with family from overseas early in the year, my grans passing mid year and these days realising my son is no longer a toddler but is growing into the most incredible child I could ask for.

72&Rising is also growing and developing. I left the magazine format behind and embraced the world of blogging. Thank you to all those that embraced that change with me. It was a difficult decision to make as I loved the old product, but for me right now this is where we need to be. Who knows what the future holds but in 2014 you can certainly expect some exciting things happening here as this process of writing, taking pictures and posting on a regular basis becomes more fluid. I’m re-defining 72 and I look forward to hearing from you about what you would like me to focus on a little more.  There will be plenty of the old: travel and photography but also some new … Let me know.

So as a way to reflect on 2013 I decided to give you a little glimpse into my life and share some of our Top 10 family highlights as seen from my Instagram.  If you would like to follow along, I will be posting one each morning for the next 10 days. Today is Went To The Beach.

Went to the Beach

You cannot go wrong with a trip to the beach. It’s impossible. No matter what the weather: sunshine or rain it’s a wonderful connecting experience. We go to the beach if we are having one of ‘those’ days, the wide open spaces, the soft sand between our toes, the crashing of the waves all bring us back to the now, the important and allow us to share a fun moment together. The beach is also a great place to investigate. To investigate nature: shells, passing wildlife such as whales and eagles, things washed up on beach be it exhausted shearwaters, bluebottles or ocean eroded wood and we investigate rock pools . We go to create. Create with bits of nature that we find along the beach, we build sandcastles, we draw in the sand. We exercise: running around, playing with a ball or walking the dog. We learn, not just about everything we are seeing but new skills such as how to rock skip and soon – how to surf! Most importantly we spend time together, free from emails, phones and computers, just alone in nature.

What do you like to do at the beach? Let me know below.

A late afternoon trip to the beach

A surfer checks out the waves

A windy day does nothing to deter kite surfers and dog walkers

Mr 3 ready for the beach

Mr 3 creating a piece of artwork on the beach

Setting sun on Port Philip Island

Blue skies, soft sand and puffy clouds on the horizon that promise rain

Winter does not stop us getting to the beach

The shear joy on his face makes my heart sing

Adventure and beyond. A fallen tree becomes a new plaything

You can’t go to the beach without building a few sandcastles

Travel for the Soul

 

Someone wise once told me that the quickest route to self-discovery is to surround yourself with the unknown. The monotony and formulated routine of daily activities – work, eat, sleep – may leave you with a sense of security, but can quickly become lead to personal discontentment.

The ultimate fuel for this ‘unknown’ is travel. It pressures you to make decisions (on bigger issues than which filter to use on Instagram), encourages problem solving skills (how to get by with no foreign money and one change of underwear) and gives you an unrivalled self-satisfaction when you make it through unscathed. Before sampling the ultimate food for the soul, I have created some tips to guide you through the global degustation.

An entrée of enrichment

Visiting another country and failing to venture outside the confines of a resort is like being serenaded with the most beautiful song in the world – without removing your earplugs. Take time to meet locals, their stories are more insightful than any information you can get from a guide book. Study their philosophies, religions and history, and use your learning to make positive changes to the way you think and act.
Food is a great way to connect and many of the most fascinating conversations are had over a meal. Appreciate the flavours of the country and share your fare with others generously and often. Most often you will find that through all the diversity and differences in appearance and lifestyle, there are so many common threads that tie you together.

Me-time for the main

Travel is about relaxation and reconnection, so wherever you go, make sure to leave time to explore the natural surroundings. Embark on a long hike through the jungles, surf the beaches and take a moment to appreciate the small things – the different silhouettes, brilliant colours of the sunrise, the softness of the sand particles on your feet. Push your body physically and test your personal limits with challenging activities before nourishing yourself with fresh local produce.

Something sweet to finish

You are coming towards the end of the adventure and feel like you have had a pretty thorough experience. You’ve met new life-long friends, walked tracks and trails you never thought your body could handle and sampled strange, exotic foods. Your destination offered you pieces of their culture and heritage to you, but have you offered anything in return?
One of the most rewarding aspects of travel is giving back, whether it be in the form of volunteering at a local orphanage, providing labour to build a house or blessing a family with financial aid, as Gandhi wisely stated – The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Cheque, please!

As you prepare to return home, remember to self-reflect on the journey you have made. Use a journal to take notes and think about the ways you can implement the lessons you learnt into your everyday life. Appreciate the inner-peace and happiness you have found and whenever you find yourself falling back into the pressures of society, use calming techniques such as yoga and meditation as tools to bring back the perspective you gained from your travels.

– Naomi Ashcroft

Naomi is founder of Salt Retreats, a new all-inclusive tropical sanctuary that combines the untouched beaches and vibrant culture of Indonesia’s Brewa Beach with gourmet, organic meals, daily yoga, surfing, spa treatments and luxury sunset yacht trips.

Find out more at www.saltretreats.com