WARNING ⚠️ This Might Make You Cry, Smile, and Hug Your Dog (Not in That Order)
5 Ridiculously Free Things That Gave Me Life Before 9AM
Welcome to Just Beach Happy - your weekly splash of salty stories, seaside silliness, and real-life reflections.
Advice from a Famous French Diva …
Coco Chanel said the best things in life are free.
(Although her perfumes aren’t - they’re a right bloody rip off!)
But I agree with her sentiment, and to demonstrate; here’s 5 tiny moments from my morning that cost nothing, yet gave me everything.
So sit down on your favourite spiky plant, pour yourself a nice warm orange juice, and enjoy…
#1 Peggy the Mini Horse Dog
Our little rescue Peggy is a short, beige, 13 year old, Jack Russell/Corgi, with teeny tiny legs and a rather rotund middle… (see below):
The last doggy in the Romanian shelter 3 Christmas’ ago, and my wife, being the caring type, brought her home.
Peggy’s a lovely little thing living her absolute best life; warm, well fed and safe.
This morning I came downstairs and she dashed out of the lounge, her tail wagging like a helicopter blade in full flight.
She launched at me with her front legs up, like a teeny tiny bucking bronco, and clung on to me for a cuddle.
‘Twas adorable.
This made me smile.
#2 The Joy of being a Fish on a Bike
Next up was my daily cycle to the beach.
The 7am roads devoid of road raging, car fumers, which was nice.
The water almost warm to the touch, like swimming in a bath that’s been sat for a little while.
Front crawl to the local pier and back.
A slight burn and pull on my shoulders; on the brink of sore but not quite.
Like a lovely yogic stretch.
The magic of exercise.
The joy of water (I’m a Piscean little fishy-wishy by birth).
It all combined into a lovely little wellness package.
This made me smile.
#3 The Wisdom of Age
One of the best things about our little sea swimming community is the number of over 70 year olds.
Hugely inspirational, as in my very simplistic mind they are living long and fruitful lives, and they swim in the sea.
Therefore as I swim in the sea - so my life will be extended and prosperous.
(Of course, genetics, lifestyle, and good fortune play their part — but hey, my brain is happy to believe!)
I digress…
One guy who’s within singing distance of 90 always has some great life advice.
When I asked him how he was today he simply said “I woke up” and gave a great big smile.
Because yes indeed waking up every morning, still being part of this human race is cause to celebrate.
Life is precious.
His ability to communicate all this in 3 words and a smile was beautiful.
This made me smile.
#4 Friends Who Care
Another beachy friend asked after one of my daughters who’s had a rough year.
She's enquired on and off for the past few months; listening kindly and attentively every time.
Given me kind words when I’ve felt sad, even prayed for us.
Today I told her things were a little brighter now which was a lovely feeling.
This made me smile.
(And btw words are SO frickin’ powerful.
Typing the sentence about my daughter just brought a tear to my eye.
I clearly need to work on my man-emotions as we all know that boys don’t cry.
Apparently I missed the memo from the venerable Robert Emo God Caterpillar Singing Smith!)
#5 Goofy Everyday Thangs
As I cycled home in the rain there was also a woman on a bike.
One hand on the bike handle and the other carrying a big fat umbrella over her head, raised up by the wind.
With leopard print leggings, chunky Nike trainers and twirling 'brolly she reminded me of a modern day urban Mary Poppins.
This made me smile.
A Cup Full of Gratitude Helps The Medicine Go Down
For all these things that blessed me this morning I am grateful, and they were all FREE.
And guess what?
Writing about them even enhances them.
Taking Time to Take Stock
It gives time to reflect.
Because I have such moments most mornings; but often in the world’s hustlin’ and a bustlin’ I don’t even acknowledge them.
In fact mini fun moments happen for all of us daily, and the key is to see them a tad more.
Enjoy them.
Let them soothe your furrowed brow like a cool wind on a boiling summer’s day.
So CHEERS…
[lifts imaginary Harry Potter Goblet Of Fire]
Here’s to life’s little moments and realising that they are…
Actually…
In fact…
Just really..
Kind of…
LIFE itself.
Something For YOU to Ponder
And I think if I can live 10,000, 100,000 or whatever number, of these little fun moments, then it will indeed have been a life well lived.
And if I think about you, dearest reader — I suspect it’s the same for you, too.
So here’s to the little things — free, fun, and fulfilling.
What’s been your little fun, free and joyful thing today?
Have a great Sunday,
JFT Beach
Quick Update…
In June I split my newsletter into 2.
Story on a Sunday and Round Up of other articles on a Wednesday.
Sunday continued to get a lot of love, Wednesday not so much.
Which I think is a bit Wednesday’ist - but you know the proof is in the entree…
So starting today I’m back to my weekly Sunday newsletter with story and round up all in one.
No tears. No tantrum. No tiaras.
A simple change for the good of all I hope.
Note Joke I wrote on Substack this week:
Article I Wrote on Substack this Week:
The Day My Daughter's Shoe Became an Underwater Crab Patisserie
Welcome to The Sunday Float #4 where I share my short story for the week.
5 6 Articles I Enjoyed on Substack This Week:
- makes some great distinctions about slow living, between the "organic slow squeezed oat milk latte with a side of fermented kombucha banana bread" crowd and just... well... slowing down a wee bit day-to-day. The 2nd option is sensible and realistic, the first a bit Instagram show off’y. I also share my envy of Sophie being chased by a wild pig, in the comments section.
Showing Up Through the Mess This is a great reminder to have a loving heart and patience in amongst life's messy bits from
Whispers of Wisdom for the Day A great teaching from
on viewing the strengths and flexibility of water as something for us humans to aspire to. It hits hard as I spend a lot of time in water as a year round sea swimmer. Swimming with and against the tide works perfectly as a life and water metaphor imho.I Am Ok - A nice ode to our imperfections by
… obviously if you're perfect then don't bother reading it… but for those who aren't… crack on and take a look!The New Rules For Slow Living A listicle of great, hard won, rules for slower living by
- written for women but 87.6% applicable to men imho.For LGBTQ+ teens, kindness lives online - An interesting message about the, little mentioned, positive impacts of technology on teens and how we can start to build a better world for all of them, from
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:
Thank you for the shout out.
Thank you, JFT. A lot of what you wrote made me smile as well. I love your morning routine and I’m considering moving by the beach within the next decade, probably on the Eastern Mexican coast. « I woke up » is just the perfect sentence to express the joy of being alive in the most essential way, I love it, almost as much as I love The Cure’s song. Thank you again for all those smiles! Lots of love.