Monday, April 2, 2012

Beach Therapy

I’ve lived by the beach almost my entire life and I am thoroughly grateful.  I find the beach to be therapeutic for it fosters my connection with God and helps me be present.  The beach calls out to me.  I might be sitting on my balcony or walking my dog and when I hear the ocean, whatever my initial intentions were, somehow I end walking to the beach.  10 minutes of fresh salt air, the sound of the waves and seagulls, feel of the sand on my feet (because I just have to take my flip flops off) and expansive horizon remind me of the important things in life and I am humbled.   

I wrote about how therapeutic the beach is for me a couple of summers ago and I’d like to re-visit this post as it describes exactly how I was feeling in that moment:

The Beach

I've been feeling really overwhelmed. I really love my job but it is very challenging. I have been working extremely hard - harder than I ever have in my entire life. I'm trying to put things into perspective and accept that I can only do so much. I haven't been doing a good job, though. Well, until my husband and I went to the beach yesterday.

I had forgotten how amazing the beach is. Going to the beach is better than taking anti-depressants. I sat in my pink beach chair, drank a few beers, squished sand through my toes and thanked God for creating such a beautiful world. I waded into the ocean intending only to get my feet wet but the water felt so refreshing, I had to jump in. Diving into waves and completely immersing myself in the cool, teal water washed away all of my stress, anxiety and exhaustion.

My husband and I laid in six inches of water, rubbed sand through our fingers, kissed each other under our cowboy hats and talked about how wonderful our lives are. The current was so strong that our bodies swayed with the rhythm of the waves - it was one of the most natural feelings ever. I love going to the beach and I go quite often. For some reason though, that day at the beach will be a moment I will always remember. I felt pure and happy and refreshed. It was the kind of feeling that reminds me of what is important in life - like the scent of the ocean, watching a hawk dive for fish, remembering how salt water turns my husband's eyes a beautiful blue-green color, and eating Twizzlers while the sun warms my skin and absorbs all things negative.   

20 comments:

  1. I've never been to a "real" beach nor seen the ocean. :( Thanks for letting me live through you today!

    Teresa

    ReplyDelete
  2. The beach is like a second home for me. I love the sound of the ocean and the feel of the sand. I was born in Jacksonville and use to love to go the beach when I lived with my father in Mobile too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I am right there with you...the beach to me reminds me that thee is someone bigger out there than me and that all is taken care of.
    Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the beach and when we can go it is to Deleware. We have said when we retire it will probably be near a beach- somewhere:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I grew up in SoCal and went to Huntington Beach every day of every summer for years and years! Totally relate to this!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ah, the beach. I grew up on the beach but call the mountains home now - but I miss the sound of the ocean and the way the salt air feels on your skin.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The beach for you is like the mountains for me. I love them and find incredible serenity when I'm there.

    ReplyDelete
  8. No I wish I was at the beach. It's the most relaxing place in the world, especially in the winter time. It's a great place to write.
    Great post and happy A-Z blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I dont get to a beach often but some of the happiest days of my childhood was amongst the dunes in Cornwall - great post

    ReplyDelete
  10. "Beach Therapy" ... Love it!! I recently spent a week in Hawaii with my 17 year old son, and one of the best memories from the week, was walking along the beach with him at night, just talking and laughing.

    :) Nice to meet you - I'm a now a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I need some beach therapy right about now.:)
    Great A-Z post!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks, everyone. I'm realizing that it is much more difficult to do the commenting/following blog thing on a week day. Especially since I don't usually take lunch breaks.

    I can't wait to follow up with everyone after work. I'm hoping that I get into a routine in the next couple of days. Enjoy your Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The beach is very therapeutic! My girls and I love going and spending the day. We come home exhausted, covered in sand and with the greatest memories and treasures!

    ReplyDelete
  14. At 45 years of age I've been to a beach probably a dozen times in my life. Someday, I'll live by one. There is something spiritual about the ocean, I'm certain!

    ReplyDelete
  15. :)

    I grew up on the West Coast, and while I've never lived in a town that's AT the coast, it's always been a driveable distance. I love going, and always feel so relaxed after I've been there. Even though it's now a 3 hour drive away, there is this one beach here in Washington that my best friend and I discovered a couple years ago, and we return to it every chance we get!

    Jo
    In Which We Start Anew

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is beautiful- I grew up on a beach, and never feel better than after an accidental swim. Really glad I read this :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. You're such a great writer, Jaime. I have a complete vision of your day at the beach. Sounds like the days I live for!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I can see why you liked the beach scene in 'Bunohan'. We have lovely beaches in Malaysia, especially the islands off our east coast. This A-Z Challenge is turning out to be all it promised...great writing experience and connecting with people with common interests! Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  19. The beach is so relaxing and so was your describtion. Nothing better than a relaxing day at the beach. Now, I have to go to the beach tomorrow. I blame you. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Heading to Hapuna Beach Hawaii on Tuesday for some beach therapy. Can't wait! This was a very thoughtful post, Jaime. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete