We didn’t have anything planned out, we sort of just said the beach might be a nice idea since the weather was so perfect. And without too much thought we made our way in the direction of the ocean after a late lunch.

We drove for a bit along the coast. We took a moment to dip our feet in the water and run towards and away from the waves. We spent time just laying out in peaceful bliss. The sun was bright, the sand was warm, the water was cold. It was one of those moments of simple pleasure in a contented kind of way.

I love the beach. I love being barefoot and feeling the coolness of the waves. I love running my palms across the sand, making little mountains like a zen garden. And as I grab a handful of sand and it escapes between my fingers, it’s like I’ve learned the art of letting go and letting be.

My friend mentioned how much she loved sand.

And I quoted the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, “Sand is overrated. It’s just tiny little rocks.”

We laughed.

But it’s kind of a sad line. The main character, Joel, is feeling hopeless.

Joel is technically right, sand really is just tiny rocks. But he says it with cynicism, scrutinizing everything that could mean something more. He pokes at the sand as he says the line, he doesn’t let himself run his fingers through it and experience the sand fully. He removes all romanticism from the smallest things, from the stuff that makes up life. It makes sense, he’s going through a break up.

But relationships aren’t the only place for romance. You need to romanticize your self, your own life. It’s essential to living well. It doesn’t have to be lying on the beach on a Monday afternoon and running your fingers through the sand. It’s simply seeing the charms of the smallest things.

It can be appreciating every cup of coffee you drink, holding the mug with both hands and feeling the warmth of the cup between your palms before taking a sip. It can be staring out the window as you ride the bus and feeling like you’re the protagonist in a film. It can be as simple as closing your eyes and taking a deep breath through your nose and out your mouth in the middle of literally anything you’re doing, resting in that moment.

How you see the tiny little rocks, the smallest things, that’s where you find if you’re genuinely living.