8/22/09

Flowing Along At The Oregon Coast

I think I'm a few behind on my sibling assignments, but I thought I would try to at least get the latest one done, which is Sibling Assignment #103, given to us by Raymond Pert.

Our family trip to Rockaway Beach has come to an end. Reflect upon what you enjoyed about being together as a family this past week.

Raymond Pert's post is here, and IEG's post is here.


What I enjoyed most about being at the coast, was being in FLOW.

People enter a flow state when they are fully absorbed in activity during which they lose their sense of time and have feelings of great satisfaction.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced chick-sent-me-high-ee) is chiefly renowned as the architect of the notion of flow in creativity.

Csikszentmihalyi describes flow as "being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost."

At the coast, we didn't have many schedules.

We could just get fully absorbed in daily activities and lose our sense of time and did indeed have great satisfaction.

Such as the morning walks with the dogs. We could get up, feed the dogs, then put on their leashes and head down the beach, not having to be back at any certain time.


Life just flowed along.

Playing games around the table.

Visiting tide pools at Hug Point State Park.
This picture cracks me up. It looks like the starfish
is in a somewhat seductive pose!!



Cooking and eating meals around the table.


Taking photographs of family, dogs, sunsets, tide pools, rock formations, seagulls, clouds.


Reading "The Gift of the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindberg.

What a luxury it is, to not have every minute of your day scheduled. To just relax, and be in the moment...to flow in the moment.

And to have this experience surrounded by my mother, brother, sister, brother-in-law, husband, and three daughters made it even more special.

5 comments:

Christy Woolum said...

You really nailed it. I love what's his name's Flow idea. It sure fit on our trip. Ahhh to capture that back again right now as we prepare for a return to school.

Cedar Street Kid said...

I have spent many delightful hours and days on the Oregon Coast. What a delightful experience for you.

Go Figure said...

Ouch, I can't concentrate on what you have to say because of the packaging. HA!

MarmiteToasty said...

I LOVE the family photos.... of you and your girls and you and your mum and siblings.... just gorgeous..

LOL@the sexy starfish :)

x

Nita Jo said...

Sounds wonderful! I love the photos. Makes me long for the beach...maybe next summer. You all look so happy and relaxed, even the dogs!

Hugs!
Nita Jo