The Many Faces of Mindfulness – A Poetic Encounter

Mindfulness reveals itself in many forms—through stillness and movement, through breath and being, and sometimes, through poetry.

By actively engaging in mindfulness, I’ve found myself becoming more spacious in the face of life—less reactive, more aware, and more attuned to the ever-shifting inner landscape. Whether sitting in meditation, moving gently, or simply being present with a poem, mindfulness has helped me navigate my thoughts and emotions with greater care and compassion.

Poetry, in particular, offers a unique gateway to presence. It slows down the moment and allows language to hold what’s often hard to name—non-attachment, acceptance, purpose. Even something as simple as a walk on the beach becomes a meditation, a dance of awareness and equanimity.

Poetry by the Sea – A Morning Encounter of Beauty, Connection, and Letting Go

This morning greeted me with a brilliant blue sky, dotted with soft white clouds. The rising sun deepened the colours of the sky, creating an almost surreal contrast between light and form. A gentle breeze cooled the warming air and lightly brushed my skin. The whole scene invited me into presence—into a moment of quiet awe.

As I walked along the beach, each step anchored me. The sand felt soft yet solid beneath my feet, and the rhythm of the waves mingled with intervals of silence. It was in this state of relaxed attention that I stumbled across something unexpected—words written in the sand. Beautiful, loving words—delicate messages shaped with care.

I paused.

There it was: poetry on the beach. Not in a book, not on a screen, but etched into the sand with quiet intention. The messages spoke of love and grief, of time and impermanence. My heart swelled. I had come to the beach with the intention to “kiss the earth with my feet,” and I couldn’t help but feel that the ocean was responding in kind—gently washing away the footprints and verses alike.

Many people passed by, eyes cast down or caught in thought, unaware of the poetry beneath their feet. But because I was walking mindfully, I noticed. I received the gift.

“Poetry is an act of peace. Peace goes into the making of a poet as flour goes into the making of bread.”
— Pablo Neruda

Toward the end of the message trail, I saw an elderly man standing by the letters, bamboo stick in one hand, a camera in the other. Dressed simply in a hat, t-shirt, and shorts, his presence was humble and kind. It was clear he was the artist. His compassionate voice and twinkling eyes made it easy to connect.

We spoke of his beach poetry, of loss and love, of creativity and impermanence. As we talked, the tide began reclaiming his work—letter by letter, word by word. And in that moment, we both recognised the quiet wisdom of letting go. Nature teaches us this again and again.

One of the quotes he had written stayed with me all day:

“I WAS PUT ON THIS EARTH TO ACHIEVE MANY THINGS – AT THE MOMENT I AM SO FAR BEHIND I AM NEVER GOING TO DIE.”
— GWS

Geoff’s gentle act of artistry touched more than just the sand that morning—it touched hearts, including mine. That brief encounter, as fleeting as the waves, left a lasting imprint. A reminder of the power of mindful presence, of poetry in unexpected places, and of the quiet joy in simply being.

Mindfulness2Be | Regina Gerlach Psychology