27 Comments
User's avatar
Michael Bower's avatar

Reminds me of something I always said to clients concerned about wear and tear on their house (retired architect) ! "Everything is crumbling and heading for the sea!" Good experiment!

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you Michael. That's an excellent saying, and mirrors my own view of what owning a small old sailing boat is like: A constantly losing fight against entropy.

Donna Broomham's avatar

I love your creativity in this article. I totally connected and became a pebble within the storytelling. It so resonates with my own way of life. It reminded me of standing on top of Urg Shagaga (a 300 metre sand dune) in the Sahara desert. A sea of sand for miles which reminded me of the ocean. My colleagues who were at the bottom looked so insignificant. Thank you for stirring my memories 🙏

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

This comment has made my day, thank you Donna. It's so lovely to hear how things connect and resonate, it's the magic of sharing writing. I'm glad the narrative worked so well, when I published this I felt like it was quite a high chance that it wouldn't work at all!

Donna Broomham's avatar

Your creativity in your writing is captivating. I can only hope I too can be creative enough in this way.

Tracey Hunter Dale's avatar

Beautiful, evocative writing…your words kept me afloat from start to finish.

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you for the very kind words, Tracey!

Vivien Beere's avatar

How beautiful, thank you

David Kirkby's avatar

Lovely, friend Alexander.

We are all pebbles, really...

Best Wishes - Dave :)

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

We're all pebbles, mountains, rivers, oceans and earth in a way. At least the way I see it. Thank you, Dave, for reading and for your kind words!

Firefly in the Forest's avatar

This is so beautiful Alexander. I loved reading it. I've been planning to go to Assynt this year, it sounds magical. But then Scotland is.

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you so much :) I agree, there is such magic in Scotland. It's really inspired me to see the world differently, allowing more mythology and mystery into my writing I think

Sam's avatar

I very much enjoyed this. Assynt is a special place. I have never had the opportunity to see these mountains from the sea. Thank you for this different perspective.

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you Sam. The perspective from the sea is really special, and allows you access to some beautifully secluded, remote spots (away from midges!) but it also means I tend to stay coastal and miss out on some inland places!

Sarah Seabrook's avatar

Beautifully written, I loved the imagery of the pebbles journey, and the connectivities it described

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you Sarah, in retrospect it really aligns with the discussion on Fiordland and Antarctica we had. In a similar yet different way it's about connection and time

Sarah Seabrook's avatar

I increasingly feel like if you spend long enough looking at the Earth, these themes become almost unavoidable. I finally got my own piece up and had a similar feeling while writing it. Different story, but still very much about connection, time, and the hidden links between places.

Kendall Lamb's avatar

I was totally absorbed by this- a parable? A dreamy meditation? Whatever it was, I got swept away. Thank you.

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you Kendall! And I love the very apt "swept away" :)

I must admit I have no idea what it is exactly.. a fable perhaps? Though dreamy meditation sounds more accurately descriptive!

Kendall Lamb's avatar

Whatever it was, I loved it!

Stacy Boone's avatar

This calls to my heart - the perspective of time and patience of a pebble.

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you Stacy, I'm happy it resonated! It's a story that has stayed with me a long time, and I'm happy I've been able to capture it in some way to share it. Thanks for reading :)

Stacy Boone's avatar

You have shared an example of writing that allows for a non-human perspective. I hope to read more.

Hazel's avatar

Nicely written, the Summer Isles and Assynt are an incredibly inspirational place, I long to get back there

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

Thank you! It's such an otherworldly place, I do hope to go back soon! Have you been out on the Summer Isles themselves before?

Glynis Brown's avatar

Next time I go swimming, I’ll be thinking ‘I’m just a pebble in the sea’

Alexander Gunnarsson's avatar

It's on repeat in my brain at all times