Each and Every One

August 4, 2023 / katemckinney79 / Leave a comment

This was taken on one of the most beautiful nights during a trip with my family around Ireland this summer. Before heading south, we spent a few days in Northern Ireland and walked along the lovely Ballycastle Beach, a slight curve of land made of many, many rocks and a strip of sand. On one end, the Glenshesk River meets the Atlantic, and at the other end, a boardwalk stretches over rocks that reach into the water. The waves were extremely calm that evening, and it being nearly the Summer Solstice, sunset came just after 10:00p.m. Rathlin Island can be seen in the distance (and although not shown in these photos, Scotland can also be viewed from the beach).

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

With so many rocks,
it could’ve been easy enough to ignore
their beauty,
to look over, look past,
step across
monotony,
but truly, so many rocks
made walking across in loose sandals
a slow task, and thankfully,
encouraged a moment’s pause,
because with a closer look
remarkable difference
became clear
each and every rock
piled on that beach
just another rock among many
became amazingly new
ancient
full of Story

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

Softened
by the waves of change
beautiful, unique,
each and every one
among many

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

Reaching out,
picking up one after another
allowed me the chance
to get closer to their stories
to know them
a little better

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

Holding each one in my hand
felt like holding a friend

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

a time to marvel

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

love

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland

We are like these rocks—
we are one of many
each
and every one
softened by the waves of change
beautiful, unique
full of Story

What’s your Story?

Ballycastle Beach, Northern Ireland