Good Days Don't Have To Be Perfect Days by Catherine Magaw
On Thursday, May 14, we visited the beach at SESC Bertiago. However, I think the expression “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” describes the way my morning started. I wanted to be excited about going to the beach, but little things seemed to keep going wrong as I was getting ready, and I wasn’t in a great mood. When nothing seems to be going right, you can either complain and stew in your disappointment, or you can accept that things aren’t going your way and look for what you can enjoy. I decided to try the second option, and see how I could still enjoy our beach day.
To get to the beach, we had an almost two-hour bus ride. This could be seen as inconvenient, but it was actually a really great experience. It was amazing to watch the crowded streets of the city fade into the mountainous countryside. Plus, it was also a great opportunity to catch up on some sleep.
Once we got to the beach, the weather was overcast and almost cold for the remainder of the day. This could be seen as disappointing, since it wasn’t ideal beach weather, but that didn’t stop anyone from jumping in the ocean, taking pictures, or playing volleyball. I think we all still managed to have a lot of fun, even our Brazilian buddies who felt a little colder than we did. I personally had fun wading in the water, spectating the volleyball games, admiring the scenery (and the pigeons and wild dogs), and spending time with everyone.
For lunch, we ate from a buffet, which meant guessing what we were eating based on the dishes’ appearance and our limited ability to translate their Portuguese labels. This could be seen as frustrating, but buffets usually become a fun guessing game (as long as people are sure they aren’t allergic to their food). Several of us ate together, and we discussed what we thought each dish was and how we liked them.
Going home from the beach involved another almost two-hour bus ride, followed by an Uber through the chaotic São Paulo traffic. Although it was a somewhat long journey back, I've come to enjoy these in-between moments of transportation as great times to reflect and decompress from the day. Afterwards, the evening was pretty unstructured, but Milena and I had a really nice time talking with our host family during dinner.
Realistically, you can’t control everything, and not everything will go according to plan. This uncertainty can feel unsettling, but some of the best moments are the ones you couldn’t have planned. By accepting that the day wouldn’t go exactly as I had thought it would, I was able to enjoy those unplanned moments.
About the author
Roberts Wesleyan University
As a community of learners committed to historic Christianity, Roberts Wesleyan University seeks to prepare thoughtful, spiritually mature, service-oriented people who will help transform society.
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