We look at the lake in wonder.

We feel ourselves release the tensions that we carry with us when we are juggling jobs, families, appointments, traffic, and everything else. We look down at the rocks pebbling the beach, bend over, and choose one that catches our eye, and perhaps we say a private word of gratitude to everything that brought us to that moment.

We repeat this over and over again, losing ourselves for minutes and hours, until we regretfully pull ourselves away. Through this ritual, whether we recognize it as such, we’re achieving zen through the art of rockhounding.