The Secret to Happiness? A Morning Dip, A Beach Hut, and Old Friends Over Coffee
The Sunday Best Round Up #20
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Last Sunday I went to the beach for an early morning sea swim with my mates
We had about 20 minutes enjoying the best of the ocean, and it ticked all the wellness boxes:
Physical Exercise
Cold Exposure
Being In nature
(All great for mental and physical health).
And just doing this ALONE made me feel that the day had been so kind to me, before it had even really started.
It got better…
I had a rented beach hut for the week and I invited my swimmy friends along.
We're all “oldie-baldies”.
My daughter’s term for us bald headed guys in our 50’s 👩🦲👨🦲🧑🦲
IMPORTANT NOTE-TH:
The baldie in “oldie-baldie” is pronounced bowl-dee.
So it’s said “oldie -bowldee”.
Because insults are a dish best served rhymey 🙂.
I played hostess, with the mostest; serving coffee, hot chocolate, and biscuits.
Some very blokey chat.
Some very silly chat.
Some very deep chat.
The topics included:
Air fryers (We all have a strange and amusing fascination with them.)
Crap tasting biscuits (That I'd bought 😀).
The pandemic (and its huge imapct on children’s mental health).
The lurve life of men aged 50+ (not.worth.repeating.in.any.vaguely.respectable publication).
I’m really blessed to have male friends who banter about football, pubs, and tell dodgy jokes.
But can equally talk about healthy relationships, the meaning of life, and being a good human.
Not unique.
But semi-rare in the male circles I've observed.
So coffee was drunk and crap biscuits were dunked
And the world was put to rights.
Then, with the doth of a metaphorical cap, they all left.
Being the hostess I got left to wash up.
Honestly MEN…
No Respect!
After clear up time I closed up the hut and turned off the lights.
Set my phone timer for 10 minutes and meditated.
As usual my practice was as far as possible from flawless.
‘Twas a game of moving thoughts out of my head.
Then, when they re-appeared, moving them back out again..
Rinse…
Repeat...
Rinse…
Repeat...
A bit like Eeyore, from Winnie the Pooh, and his game with the popped, flat balloon.
TDLR version:
Eeyore once had the BEST time putting a flattened balloon in a jar, then taking it out again… and repeating it over and over.
The balloon = my thoughts.
The jar = my brain
In case this fictional donkey-based metaphor needed a further explain-eth 😀
When I finished meditating I had all the gushy, sway’ee, feelz in my head.
My brain working at a yummy slower speed.
Yet there was still more fun to be had…
I locked up the hut and walked back along the beach at a distinctly unhurried pace.
Looking out to sea with a soft gaze I fascinated myself with the waves.
Small blue hills with white foamy tips.
Rolling back ‘n’ forth.
Then forth ‘n’ back.
Back ‘n’ forth.
Then forth ‘n’ back.
Perpetually sloshing in a most delicious way.
My mind was so quiet, still, blissed out.
At the end of my beach stroll I bumped into another swimmy pal.
A warm hug.
Some chitty chat.
And as I left she kindly said:
“Keep being an example…”
My brain reacted “An example? … Say what?
Imposter syndrome kicked in faster than a stubborn mule who'd been fed a tiny carrot for an entire day's labour, after being promised an absolute truck load of orange earthy goodness.
(Stop already! Literally where are all these ridiculous, stupid, bonkers, absolutely bloody pointless donkey metaphors coming from????)
But yep my mind was like:
“Me... an example …lol… what of?
How to live a fairly mediocre life, with little success?
At least in the general wealthy, sports winner, all round superstar type of way.”
And, yep, I'm definitely no Richard Branson, David Beckham or Superman.
(Nor do I play them for the purposes of TV).
However I am generally pretty happy.
Pretty kind.
And do give reasonably good chitty chat at the beach.
And maybe that's enough.
To show up every day with a smile, a thoughtful word, and the odd funny observation.
In which case I’m happy to be that example.
It may not be that rock ‘n’ roll, but I think there’s way worse things in life.
And now we’re nearing the end of this little story; I’m not… erm… entirely… erm… 100% sure where it’s gone!
We’ve travelled from sea… to hut… to Winnie the Pooh… to beach… to here.
At very least I hope it's been a fun read.
More importantly I hope it hasn’t been an “ooo… look at me Mr. Happy!” type read.
As there's days I'm a grumpy sod and not living that vibe at all.
(Especially when I’m missing sleep.)
Just ask my family. 😂
But being happy is generally my happy place.
Especially when I get to swim in the cold, hang out with good people, and meditate.
And I hope you’ve got similar habits in your life which enhance your joy too.
You deserve them.
The Happiest of Sundays to you,
JFT Beach
Article I Wrote on Substack This Week:
This 5 Letter Word Helps YOU Calmly Navigate Sticky Situations - A simple ‘how to’ for reacting calmer in everyday life, with real life examples.
A Note I Shared on Substack This Week:
5 Health and Wellness Articles I Enjoyed on Substack This Week:
8 Essential Lessons to Learn by Age 40 As ever I lurve a listicle. This does not disappoint. Lots of head nod moments in this little piece from
7 Things You Shouldn't Say To Me Wow… A listicle with a twisticle. 7 things that blokes say that really annoy women. Glad to say I don’t say any of them (yay for me!) and tbh they would be so cringe I can’t think why anyone would. Like. Ever. Yet clearly they do. Thanks
The Cockroach Theory for Self-Development The title dragged me in… and it’s a super short ‘n’ sweet, yet filling, piece of literary pie (I know strange analogy and nothing to do with cockroaches but… you know.. too much caffeine today!) from
Unlocking Wisdom: 10 Game of Thrones Quotes That Still Resonate I miss GOT so much and so was much pleased-eth to come across this piece by
If you loved GOT then check it out. If not probably skip to #5How To Start Rewilding Today This is a great article if you want some simple ways to bring nature into your life and feel happier. Great stuff, as ever, from
I know it’s only supposed to be 5, but this is a late bonus 🙂 16 NEAT Ways to Boost Your Metabolism
shares some great ways to add vital exercise to part of your daily life. You can get fitter and healthier without the need to hit the gym.
I hope you enjoyed today’s little compendium. If you did, please do me a favour and re-stack it, or add a comment below. I’d REALLY REALLY appreciate it.
To Lazy Sunday Afternoons,
JFT Beach
PS Thanks to the following for… well… following!
Yep this week the following lovely people have started following me on Substack thanks to all of you
PPS Sharing is caring
Please drop links to any new and interesting Substack articles you’ve read lately as I’m always looking for more to share on a Sunday.
What a lovely read. I didn't even care that I couldn't guess where it was headed. The delight of the journey through it sufficed! Have a great week!
We all have oldie bowldie moments, but at 71 I'm full-on oldie & near-on bowldie. I love how language is tiptop sprinkled & massaged to give a feeling of beneficence (ach, now there's a word!) in your storytelling forays. Such restorative calm - after a pause.
Thanks for this. Strange how a wee story, told in a certain way, can be so helpful & healing. Please carry on being an ... example. 🥴