If you could have dinner with any philosopher, who would it be?

I’d choose Socrates. I have so much respect for his approach to life—he didn’t just accept things at face value, he constantly challenged himself and others to think deeper. The idea that we should examine our lives daily is something I hold close. For me, staying present is the ultimate form of self-examination. It’s a constant effort to be aware, to learn, and to grow.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot this weekend. Sometimes staying present isn’t a big, deep moment. Sometimes it’s just noticing the wind.

A Hot Last Day of the Airshow

Today was the last day of the airshow in Huntington Beach, and it’s been a hot weekend. There was a heat advisory, so I planned my day around it. I ran early in the morning, before the heat really set in, and I saved my walking for the evening and night to reach my daily step goal.

A Dry Run and a Little Side Quest

This morning’s run was dry and warm. There wasn’t much of a breeze, so once I reached my destination, I walked the rest of the way.

My destination was a little side quest: picking up some pastries I’d ordered from an app I’ve been using lately. I’m sure a lot of you would love it and benefit from it, so I’ll write about it another day.

Then the Breeze Hit

From there, I walked down to the shore, and oh, whoa. The wind and the cool breeze felt amazing.

The ocean was nice and mostly mellow, but the waves were good, and the surfers out there were loving it, catching waves.

Lately, I’ve been tempted to go out and surf. I’ve only ever surfed in Hawaii, but the water here looks so inviting. Warm days like today make me braver and make me want to paddle out.

The Whole Beach Came Together

It was so nice seeing people come out to the beach with their families, gathered in groups and enjoying the day. Food trucks were all lined up, and people were rushing to get a good spot on the sand or along the boardwalk. Some people even set up in the parking lot for a little tailgate of sorts.

Out on the water, so many yachts and boats were lined up to watch the show.

Watching From My Hammock in Olive

The planes were definitely loud, but my cats had already gotten used to it. I was able to sit in my hammock in the bus and watch some of the show while I got some work done on my laptop. Then I headed out to the beach to watch part of it in person.

It’s been an eventful day.

What I’m Grateful For Today

• The beach, and being able to park close by. On days like these, cooling off in the water is one of the best feelings.
• Events like this one, which bring people together to enjoy a fun day or weekend.
• The wind and the breeze. You don’t realize what a big part it plays in our environment, especially on hot days, until you feel it.

Maybe that’s what examining life looks like on an ordinary day: slowing down long enough to notice what you’re grateful for. Today, for me, it was the breeze.