The Sun has been out in Vancouver, and I have been soaking it up with enthusiasm. On Thursday I went for a short run around the sea wall, stretched, and then meditated on the beach (if you have never meditated on the beach before I highly recommend it). For my meditation I listened to an Abraham Hicks meditation (click here if you do not know who this is) on financial well-being. I have listened to this guided meditation at least 50 times, but I picked up on something that I missed before as I sat on the sand. It was a word actually, and that word was “fun.” Esther referred to making money as something that was fun. For some reason I have never thought of money in that way. I have thought of money as something that is hard to make, I have paired if up with words like “stressful” and “hard” and “undeserving” – but when you use the word fun new words sort of come to mind. Words like “easy to make” “accessible.” This revelation has excited me deeply, and for the past few days I have repeated this new found affirmation whenever I feel my vibrations beginning to slip: “making money is fun.” It’s such a bizarre affirmation, but right now it’s really working for me.

After my meditation I decided to complete one of the Artist’s Way Challenges. This challenge involved going out into nature and finding “5 pretty or interesting rocks.” The point is to use these rocks as small “constant reminders of your creative consciousness.”

I had my earbuds in from the meditation, and I was about to put on some music as I strolled along the beach… but then I stopped myself. I remembered what I had learned from the reading deprivation week, and I decided to take this opportunity to spend some time with myself in silence. I’m so glad that I did. I feel that I got so much more out of it because of that decision. As a child I actually used to collect rocks on the beach, and this exercise returned me to that state of wonder and curiosity. As I sifted through rocks that had collected in the wet sand I felt at peace, and although there were tons of people around me… I also felt alone. As an introvert, this is a good thing.

I have been going non-stop lately, and although I am loving every second today (I was cast in a short film and was on set all day today – incredible experience), I realize that down time is important. That time at the beach was exactly what I needed to keep myself focused and organized. Perhaps I should make beach meditations a part of my weekly routine.