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Jo Sundberg's avatar

This was a lovely post Emily. Thank you for switching comments back on.

So you've been in Spain with your family. Sounds like a wonderful break.

Growing up on the beach in the North Island of NZ I loved the different types of shells.

Now living by the lake in the South Island I choose a stone to take home with me after my morning refreshing dip. I always give thanks as am wary of "taking". I collect the stones in a bowl at home and they are a reminder of how important it is to do good things for yourself - cold swims, immersions in nature, celebrating the beauty.

You capture the beauty of the shells so well. I could never photograph like that. 💛

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thanks so much Jo. I wrote and published it from my phone browser on holiday and thought I’d changed the settings, but alas no!

We did have a lovely time, thank you - my favourite times were walking along the beach collecting shells. I can imagine there were wonderful shells to collect in NZ and so important to give thanks for the beauty. I’m imagining your bowl of stones, each one a sacred reminder of self kindness. Sending love xx

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David Kirkby's avatar

Wonderful, Emily - both text and photographs. This is like me on any beach, or below any sea cliff. You capture it perfectly...

Best Wishes from Australia - Dave :)

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Dave! Lovely to meet another shell collector💛 I bet the shells in Aus are gorgeous! These shells were collected in Spain while we were in holiday there. Best wishes to you from the UK!

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David Kirkby's avatar

Oh yes - wonderful shells. Each one a story......

Best Wishes - Dave :)

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Julia Perry's avatar

Smashing collection! I especially love the 1st and 4th pictures. The pups and I are traveling to the ocean next month. To return shells that my husband & I found on our honeymoon. He is no longer here and it feels fitting to return them. A different ocean, a different shore, however, returned nonetheless.

Also: I was just introduced to your Substack. Via Chloe. I cannot tell you how much I loved hearing all of you read. Deepest thanks Emily.

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you Julia, it’s lovely to be introduced 💛 especially through so wonderful a source as Chloe - it was such a gift to include Chloe’s words and voice, and the voices of other phenomenal writers.

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing something so tender. Returning the shells sounds like such a beautiful act of love and remembrance. A different ocean, a different shore… but still part of the same vast rhythm. I’ll be thinking of you and your pups on your journey 💛✨

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Julia Perry's avatar

Thank you, thank you Emily

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Veronika Bond's avatar

gorgeous collection, Emily

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Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

Thank you so much Veronika 🩶🐚 I enjoyed collecting them very much, and photographing them too 💛

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