LUCKY



I went snorkeling at Gordon's Bay on Sunday, which is only 10 minutes from my house. It was a very warm day, but a little overcast. Some friends had been snorkeling before me, and were egging me on to go in, but I was having a little moan that the water would be too cold, and I was thinking 'I don't want to go in, leave me alone!'. I did however make the effort, and after an initial wince, the water was very warm, and I slipped immediately into another world of quite and calm.

I came across a little school of baby squid, all speckled pink and brown. I followed them around, observing the way in which they swam, and I tried to do the same, but was mostly unsuccessful. One of them glanced sideways at me, and I am pretty sure if it had an eyebrow, it would have raised it. Three smallish fish, black and yellow stripey things, darted up from the seaweedy forest below and circled the baby squid, who reacted by squirting out little clouds of dark ink, which hung in the water and formed shapes almost identical to themselves. The fish instead then went for the inky ghosts and came away with nought but sepia lips, whilst the babies made a speedy getaway.

If I hadn't have gone in, I wouldn't have been witness to this spectacle. I pondered it for a while and realized how very lucky I am, and also how one almost always gains something from doing something that one might not really have wanted to do, just because one 'couldn't be bothered'. There are so many awe-inspiring and beautiful things in the universe. If only we would see them. Sometimes there seems to be so much doom or negativity or personal struggle, but we are all very lucky to be here. There is so much to see, and sometimes when everything may seem against you, it is still wonderful enough just to be alive.

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with what I just said, other than when I was wondering around on a rainy day in Hamilton, NZ wandering why I was there, I found this, and was again happy and grateful.

Have a wonderful day!!