We have had some wonderful sunny days this past week. After a challenging and busy time, I had earmarked the weekend to spend time in Nature, to restore and refresh. By Saturday, the winds had dropped and the days felt beautifully warm for the time of year.

Gentle winds mean flat seas! So when I heard dolphins were in the area, I jumped at the opportunity to go out on our local Scarborough “Pirate Boat.” I decided to go for it, fully aware that luck would need to be on my side. This added to the excitement… would I make it to the boat? And if so, would we be lucky enough to see dolphins?

I felt incredibly blessed. Everything fell into place: I was clear of tasks for the day, a car park space was available on the pier, the boat was ready to launch, and before I knew it, I was out at sea.

I immediately felt happy being on the water in sunshine, enjoying a carefree, restorative time after a demanding week. I reminded myself I could enjoy the trip even if we didn’t see dolphins. Watching the waves created by the boat’s motion, breathing in the sea air, feeling the sun on my face… how lucky was I? Even without any wildlife sightings, the experience itself was a gift.

But things went from good to better. Within moments, the skipper spotted dolphins! We soon reached them and were treated to spectacular encounters. Some swam quickly past the boat, splashing with energy; others leapt acrobatically out of the water; still others moved slowly and gracefully, their sleek grey bodies glinting in the sunlight. At one point, the skipper turned off the engine, and all the passengers fell quiet. We could hear the dolphins breathing as they surfaced nearby. Truly magical.

This week’s self-kindness invitation is to be open to whatever pleasures may present themselves in the moment, rather than always looking ahead or hoping for something special. A boat ride can be enjoyable all on its own. Dolphins are a bonus.