Outfit: South Beach at sunset

Sometimes it just feels right to be in a certain place. Miami Beach was one of those places. As soon as I was on the beach, I felt calmer, and more aware of the here and now. Despite having packed my Galaxy Tab, I never got to read any of my ebooks, which I had long been looking forward to. Instead I sat there for hours, just breathing, listening to the waves, watching the other people. I once saw a woman there meditating in the middle of the day – she had closed her eyes, tilted her face toward the sun, and listened to something via headphones. I think of South Beach as one of those places where absolutely everybody can relax just like that. The perfect setting, i.e. the sandy beach, colorful lifeguard stands, the turquoise sea water, certainly helps. And the beach turned even more beautiful just before sunset when it was rather empty.

The thing is that I am one of those people who constantly wonder ‘what if’. But being on South Beach silenced my nagging inner voice. No more: what if the Berlin Wall hadn’t fallen? what if I had married my first great love and stayed in our region of Germany? what if I had never discovered my ex having an affair? what if I had stayed in Istanbul? what if there was a mistake concerning my taxes? – Well, had any of these happened, it would have prevented me being in Miami Beach this week, obviously. And that’s exactly how I knew that everything happens for a reason – because being on South Beach and feeling so relaxed only meant that I was in the right place at the right time. We all need these brief respites every now and then because everyday life is sometimes exciting, sometimes stressful enough. Things do work out especially after I take one step back, sit down on a beach, and take a deep breath. I honestly should go to beaches in the south more often.

But for now I spend some more time in big cities because tomorrow morning I take the train to New York City.