Horses and Beaches and a Smile You Can't Lose.

This past Sunday, I watched as a dozen horses thundered across an empty beach. Atop were riders, bareback, racing a kilometer down the shoreline.

It was suprisingly loud, intense, magnificent to see that much muscle and mass moving that quickly past.

And it was also a delight.

The festivities were a part of the the Onetangi beach races - an annual tradition on Waiheke island that's been going for over 150 years.

Earlier in the day, there had also been tractor races, a faux beach "fashion show", a convertable boat-car showcase in which two boat-cars got stuck, and kids, ponies, horses, and lots and lots of sun.

And as I sat through the afternoon, baking (and sunburning) in the sun, I reflected on how lovely it is to connect with simple, silly, fun days like that one.

With all the craziness in the world, all the all-caps news reports and dire predictions and 24/7 coverage, there are still days and places like this.

A bunch of people get together, ride horses down the beach, go swimming, and refuse to take anything too seriously.

This, too, is humanity.

This week, I'm so happy to be reminded. :)

Have a light week,

-Steven

p.s. The best thing I saw this week was obviously the horses. But the best thing I can share is this thought-provoking video about pineapples, psychology, and why we unexpectedly hate cheap things.