The ocean (or any beach) is most definitely my scared space. It is a change of pace. A mental and physical breath of fresh air. The vibes from the ocean are unlike home, which often feel tense and create a sensation of anxiety. The ocean brings the contradictory feeling of that. The ocean is a place of relaxation. My mind can take a break from the chaos that we call "real life." It is somewhere that allows me to take a small exploration.
The first time I went to the ocean, I was young. I was with my two siblings, my father and my biological mother. It was a happy time. I remember it clear as day. York Beach in Maine was where we went and in that moment, Maine was my home. The feeling I got when I discovered my first full sand dollar was a feeling that is indescribable. I remember the excitement and how the water was so cold it seemed to burn my skin, leaving me red and pruned by the end of the day. I remember the intense sunburn across the tops of my shoulders. The freckles I never knew I had began to spread across my nose and under my eyes. I feel beautiful and at one with nature while at the beach.
Hearing, seeing and feeling the water is therapeutic. All the sensations such as the strong sun, the paralyzing temperatures of the water, the annoying sand that becomes captured in every nook of your body are something I, personally, cannot experience at home. The pure joy, freedom and exploration is something that is not experienced every day for me. As I grow, I begin to acknowledge that the ocean is my safe place. It is somewhere where all of my negative thoughts disappear. It is the place where I take a step back and realize how absolutely breathtaking the world can be. How much I, myself, take life for granted. It makes me think of how fortunate I am to be breathing. It influences me to be more aware of my surrounding, and to not be such a pessimist when things seem to be crumbling around me.
The ocean is where memories are made. Where I can relax everything, where negative thoughts and feelings melt away from my mind. It is more of a home to me than the home I grew up in. A place of freedom and beauty. The ocean is my scared space.
I personally do NOT like beaches (97% of the time), but some of your descriptive writing about it was so beautiful that it almost makes me want to go to the beach. You romanticized the beach by including details, memories, and emotions. Do you, when you're there, actually feel this way about it, or do you get caught up in the fun of it, forgetting about its calming nature? The sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun can be so relaxing. Now, having said that, the sound of children often over powers the sound of the ocean. Have you ever gone to the beach after it closes? It's amazing how different it is when you're alone on a beach. It's a little chillier, the wind a little stronger, the waves a little louder, but (sorry for the cliché) watching the sun set with no one around is amazing. The sky is a blend of yellow to orange, to red, purple, then black. The stars peak out, glittering the sky. If you're watching the sun set, it actually disappears pretty quickly, but maybe that's part of the beauty of it. If it lasted more than the short time that it does, perhaps it wouldn't be the same.
ReplyDeleteI chose to comment on your post in part because I almost used the ocean as my sacred space as well. I love the ocean as well and think that living in the part of NH we do, where you have to drive a few hours to get to the closest beach, we appreciate it a lot more than some other people.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you that the ocean makes you realize how miniscule you are in the grand scheme of things... the expansive water really puts things in perspective for us. I think it is interesting you feel most comfortable in a place that brings you back "down to earth", because many people would prefer somewhere that "built them up".
Do you feel the same love towards other bodies of water? What is your favorite beach?