Life Lessons in Beachcombing with My Granddaughter

Walking along the surf on Longboat Key in Florida, hundreds of seashells decorated the shore. As I strolled with my 4-year-old granddaughter Willow, we stopped every few feet for her to pick up shells and drop them into her lime green shell bag, which she wore like a crossbody purse. She didn’t’ pick up just any shell, but only those she deemed worthy. Each one was a treasure in her young eyes.

I also was beachcombing by her side and chose what I labeled the perfect shell. Where my shells were smooth and flawlessly shaped, hers were primarily broken. Jagged-edged, cracked and discolored—her shells—when laid out on the table—made for a collection of astonishing shapes, sizes and colors. They were not only a testament to the incredible range of marine life, but also to the wonder of our fascinating world and the people in it.

That’s when it struck me—her fragile broken seashells, could impart a profound lesson. These intricate and weathered remnants of the ocean can remind us that adversity and hardship can shape our character and our views of the world. Just as the waves polish and break shells, challenges refine our souls, revealing our resilience and inner strength. We learn that even in brokenness, there is deep-rooted beauty, for the scars and imperfections we carry, tell stories of our survival and endurance.

Like the sea’s relentless tides on seashells, our life’s hardships teach and shape us into something uniquely beautiful, reminding us that every challenge and setback contributes to our growth and individuality. I realize that Willow didn’t know that she was teaching me—for she was just picking up treasures that captured her imagination. But she has inspired and given me a priceless lesson in the beauty and simplicity that I often overlook. In her enthusiasm, I was reminded that life’s most profound lessons often come from observing the world through the lens of a child.

Beachcombing with this sweet little one now has me savoring the moment and finding joy in the smallest discoveries—from a sandpiper darting along the water’s edge to a pelican plunge-diving for fish, and to a small shell buried in the sand to a tiny sand crab’s fleeting appearance. Patience, wonder, acceptance and resilience are the ultimate lessons from my time on the beach with Willow—special reminders that some of life’s greatest treasures are hidden in a broken shell and just beneath the surface of everyday moments.