Last Sunday, we went for a cliff walk in Wicklow.

We walked along the coast, enjoyed the views, and saw two lovely seals in the water. We also saw a jellyfish, ate golden pear and picked blackberries.

It was one of those simple days that makes you feel light.

There was something about that moment that made me smile. Not because anything extraordinary had happened, but because I was there to see it.

I wasn’t rushing to the next thing. I wasn’t thinking about what needed to be finished. I was just enjoying the walk, the sea, the company, and the surprise of these beautiful creatures appearing in our day.

As a scientist, I still like to find the spiritual meaning in things. I don’t necessarily believe every interpretation literally, but I enjoy the reminders they offer.

Seals are often associated with intuition, playfulness and adaptability. Jellyfish are associated with going with the flow, trusting the universe and adapting to life’s changing currents.

I like the invitation they bring.

To stop trying to control everything.

To trust a little more.

To let life surprise me.

There was a lightness to Sunday that I haven’t felt in a while.

I enjoyed the walk.
I enjoyed the company.
I enjoyed seeing the seals and the jellyfish.
I enjoyed being outside.

Sometimes a break isn’t about recovering so that we can get back to work.

Sometimes it’s about remembering that there is a whole life happening outside of the work.

A life with sea views and cliff walks and unexpected encounters with wildlife.

A life where we can feel light.

Where we can enjoy something simply because we enjoy it.

Where we can let ourselves be a little bit playful.

And maybe that’s the invitation I took from the seals and the jellyfish on Sunday.

You don’t have to be producing something to be having a meaningful experience.

Sometimes, a meaningful day is a cliff walk, two seals, a jellyfish, a golden pear and a handful of blackberries.

Sometimes, you just have to be there.

And sometimes, two lovely seals are enough to remind you.