Blue sea, waves. Waving kelp forests underwater. A gentle voice. Honest connection between man and octopus. What a beautiful movie: My Octopus Teacher. It taught me everything and everyone is part of the universe. A true part. We are not only visitors. If you move yourself through wherever you are in nature, you are not just a guest. You are part of the system and one with it.

Something similar but from a different angle is told in the only book I read multiple times, the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It has this appealing part about learning where to find happiness. Look close by at what you are given to take care for and at the same time, look at the marvels of the world.

“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.” The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was. “Well,” asked the wise man, “did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?” The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him. “Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,” said the wise man. “You cannot trust a man if you don’t know his house.” Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen. “But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. “Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,” said the wisest of wise men. “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.” (Paulo Coelho, the Alchemist)

When do you feel part of it all? When can you feel at the same time yourself, the things that are entrusted to you and the wonders of the world around you?

Till a year ago, I lived in Australia. There it was easy. I just went to the beach. The sound of the huge waves of the ocean that came crashing in, the smell of the salt seaweed, the wide vista of the enormous sea and high cliffs were enough. Just being there, I could feel myself go open and I knew all would be ok. I could feel myself grounding and actually really be there in that moment with everything that was me and all the marvels of the world.

In the Netherlands it is a bit more difficult. But finally, this week I could feel it again! The day after I say the octopus movie, I ran through the dunes. There was a little rain. A lot of wind. The songs of birds. A big tree and suddenly there were a herd of deer staring at me. At the same time I was letting go of worries and just moving on. And then it happened. It all came together. I was there in that moment. I spread my arms and wanted to hug the world. I felt connected. To myself and to my surroundings.

So often we are in our heads, thinking, making notes, planning ahead, worrying. And sometimes it suddenly clicks. It feels massively good!