As far as the eye could see, the Sand was a never-ending sea of golden grains that shimmered in the sunlight. Pritz had spent every summer since she could remember having fun at the beach, making sandcastles, and digging her toes into the sand.

Pritz, however, started to perceive the sand differently as she grew older. She gained knowledge about erosion and how human activity affects the sensitive environment of the beach. She observed how the sand dunes were continually being reshaped by the wind and waves.

Pritz had an idea one day when she was sitting on the sand admiring the waves. Sand was being gathered in handfuls, which she then packed tightly into a bucket until it was full. She tipped the bucket gently on its side, building a tall tower out of the sand.

Even though it was only a modest construction that would probably be destroyed by the next high tide, Pritz felt a sense of accomplishment for using the same sand that she had played in for years to create anything.

Pritz recognized that the sand was similar to life as she sat and observed the tower. Although it could be molded and formed, in the end it was only fleeting, continually altering and changing. We had the ability to make something lovely in the time we had, just like the sand does.

Pritz felt grateful for life’s modest joys as she rose up and dusted the sand off her hands. She knew as she left the tower that she would always treasure her memories of the sand, the beach, and the lessons they had imparted upon her.