The mist hangs snugly over the trees and the steady hum of the dishwasher competes with the dull roar of the surf. I stare at a lone figure balancing on a pile of rocks across the glassy sand. My Hunter rain boots call to me from the front door, encouraging me to finish writing so I can flip up my hood and  immerse myself in a perfectly wet West Coast Day. But for now, I settle for sipping my hazelnut coffee, chewing on the end of my pen, and curling a little deeper into the worn leather of my chair as foam crashes up against the rocks and some of the freshest air on earth slides through the open glass door.

Last night over dinner, Dad and I traded stories from our most recent hospital escapades and the biggest lessons we have learned since cancer put us on parallel paths a little over 18 months ago. After everything my parents and I have been through, we have all emerged more grateful for life’s simple pleasures like having the chance to spend four days sipping wine, reading, and wandering the beaches of Vancouver Island’s craggy coastline. There were many moments throughout the past year and a half that I wondered if I would ever get this chance again.

What about you? What are you grateful for today? What do you take for granted right now that you would miss if you lost it?

In the words of Frederick Keonig, “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, the beach awaits…