We’re all sea turtles. Rise to the occasion.

Every year, under the light of the moon, sea turtles come out of the ocean and crawl onto Longboat Key beaches to lay their eggs. 

When this happens, we don’t throw loud parties. We stay quiet, turn off bright lights, and watch the process with care and respect. 

We tiptoe around their nests. 

We remove obstacles. 

We turn off the lights, so their babies don’t get confused.

We post signs that say, “Please be kind—someone very small and important is trying to find their way.” 

We create a whole support system around these vulnerable creatures. 

Because they're precious. Because they're doing something hard. Because they're doing their best.

What if we treated each other like sea turtles during nesting season?

Imagine if we looked at people the same way we look at sea turtles? 

What if we consistently gave each other the same empathy, compassion, safety, and support?  

The truth is, there are many people in Longboat Key that already live this way. You’ll see them walking around with kind hearts, soft voices, and helping hands — the LBK community’s actions post hurricanes Helen and Milton speak for themselves.

It might take a little effort to go the extra mile for someone, especially when you're carrying your own load and facing the everyday struggles of life—but sometimes, that small act of kindness can mean the world to someone else. It does to a sea turtle.

–Christine Rothberg, Sea Horse Beach Resort