When a perfect experience presents itself, all that is required is for you to recognize it and embrace it for as long as it lasts. I had such an experience on Sunday, September 2 nd.
Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas was where my husband and I were staying, along with two wonderful friends who were responsible for introducing us to the place and getting us there. Since snorkeling was a major reason for the trip, we rented a boat for the day and set out to sea, armed with a map of some prime snorkeling spots. On the way out to the reefs, we sailed through the clearest, bluest water I had ever seen. The bottom was white sand and looked like you could just stick your hand in and write your name. At my behest, we stopped the boat. I had to swim in this. Our friend, Ed, pointed out that there was nothing to see under water in this location. I didn't care. This wasn't about seeing sea life. This was about being a part of it, about being one with something so pristine and pure that it almost brings you to tears.
Jumping in, I found the water to be about 7' to 8' deep. Floating on my back in the Sea of Abaco, white sand beneath me, crystalline water surrounding me, and sun shining above me, my happiness factor was off the charts. With my husband beside me enjoying it equally, life just couldn't be better at that moment. After a time, we were ready to go on to the next adventure...the reefs.
As our boat cut through the electric blues and emerald greens of the surrounding waters, my husband kissed me and wished me a happy birthday. Good grief......I had totally forgotten. Today
was my birthday! Well, that was just the icing on this beautiful chocolate cake of a day so far. And here I was, living the best gift I could imagine.
As we approached the snorkeling sites indicated on our map, we were a little concerned that these primo sites might be a little hard to find. The four of us had gone on a commercial snorkeling tour on a previous trip to the Bahamas and we could only hope that whatever we found on our own would be comparable. Thankfully, Ed's navigational skills led us to reefs even better than those and way better than any of us could ever imagine. Add to the fact that the four of us were the only ones around made the experience even more spectacular.
Throughout the day, I couldn't help but marvel aloud at how this was the best birthday I had ever had. Laughingly, my husband and friends assured me that topping it next year might be difficult. As I laughed along with them, it occurred to me that I don't care if I never have another birthday like that in my life. If the gods and the planets and whatever Powers that Be saw fit enough to give me a day this perfect even once, then that's good enough.
Contrary to what is drilled into our heads daily, life is not always about raising the bar or setting a higher expectation for the future. Sometimes it is simply about reveling in and savoring every nuance of the moment that's right in front of you. Realize your good fortune...the beauty of nature, good friends, the presence of someone whose heart and soul are bound with yours..... and be ever so grateful.