"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea"

Anne Morrow Lindbergh's quote from "Gift from the Sea" is an extensive reflection on the rhythm of life and the mindset needed to truly receive what it uses. The sea, in this metaphorical context, represents the vast and endless opportunities, experiences, and knowledge life presents to us. Lindbergh recommends that approaching life with anxiety, greed, or impatience prevents our capability to really acquire from these experiences. Stress and anxiety can cloud our judgment, greed might trigger us to neglect the simple yet extensive gifts, and impatience may lead us to miss the appeal in the procedure of waiting and receiving.

The idea of lying "empty, open, choiceless as a beach" speaks with the concept of receptivity. A beach is vast and seemingly endless, continuously improved by the sea's tides, yet it does not actively look for to manage or change the waves. It accepts whatever comes, be it calm lapping waves or a fierce storm. This metaphor recommends that to live completely, one should cultivate a sense of openness and acceptance, free from presumptions or stiff expectations. By being "choiceless", Lindbergh implies a state of non-attachment to specific outcomes, allowing us to engage with life without the restraints of fixed desires or fear of loss.

Moreover, waiting "for a present from the sea" highlights patience and rely on the natural order of life. It motivates an understanding that life's true rewards are not constantly instant and may be available in forms we do not expect. The "present" is typically the serendipitous result of existing, client, and accepting.

In essence, Lindbergh's reflection welcomes us to approach life with a frame of mind comparable to the natural world's ebb and flow, promoting for a balance in between activity and receptivity, effort and surrender, planning and letting go. This balance allows us to truly welcome and be enriched by the presents life provides, frequently arriving in their own time and form.