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| Dolphins swim gracefully along with our dive boat in Hawaii. |
Jacques Cousteau said, "People protect what they love." So what do I love? I love the ocean.
I've been tied to the sea since I was little. Taking family trips to the Big Island of Hawaii, learning to play in the sand, learning to swim, searching tide pools for creatures, learning to snorkel, and boogie-boarding were major parts of my childhood. A few years back, I tried my hand at surfing and learned I'm not very good with balance. This past year I earned my scuba certification, which completely inspired me and assured me that my heart is set on protecting the environment and the oceans, and all the biodiversity they contain.
Even though in California I grew up close enough to drive to the beach, I don't remember going too often, and when we did it was oftentimes cold. In Northern California the waves are never warm and the sun doesn't always shine. Also, the kelp that washes ashore stinks the place up a bit. Even so, my favorite things in the world are laying in the sun on a sandy beach, listening to the waves, and swimming in the ocean. I don't know who could argue against me if I said that the sound of the waves is beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing. Not to mention, the waves, the beach, the horizon, seeing endless blues are all beautiful, and I could stare at the scenery for hours and days without ever getting tired of it.
Sandy beaches are great places to just sit and think while digging your toes around in the sand. I remember having seriously thoughtful conversations while on beaches. There was a time when my family and I were at the beach and a few American military jets of some sort flew overhead causing a large ruckus of noise. I was reading Fahrenheit 451 at the time and uttered something along the lines of, "Well, that was scary." But my mother assured me that as long as they are over our heads, at least they aren't bombing somebody else.
Food for thought.
And of course, there's that song "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack, which absolutely drives me crazy. However, there is one good line in that song where she sings, "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean." Because if you really think about it, we are nothing compared to the size of the ocean. The oceans take up 70% of the Earth, and yet somehow with all the power of mankind together we're destroying it in all its glory.
I guess that's what I appreciate about the ocean so much. Trips to the beach to walk, sit, tan or play, give people the opportunity to think. Honestly, if you were as relaxed all the time as you feel when you're by the sea, don't you feel that you'd make better decisions? More meaningful decisions? In today's society we feel too rushed; I love the ocean because it takes me out of the busyness and stress. I love the ocean because it gives me peace of mind.
There has always been this deep connection I've shared with the ocean. Much about how I feel about the world/about life/about various situations I have been able to compare to how the ocean deals. This is getting a bit philosophical now, but it has been said many times that the ocean is always changing, never the same. This is perfectly true, when the waves can't perfectly crash on shore the same every time. Water molecules don't just stay still. So the ocean is ever changing, just as we are ever changing. Each new experience we have and each new decision we make ultimately has an impact on who we are.
I try to follow the perfect example of the ocean (and I guess this applies to water in general). When a rock is in the way of the ocean's flow, it simply finds another way around without a fuss. Quite literally, "Go with the flow." This tends to be a good motto I try to follow.
Ocean
Vast, deep
Swimming, splashing, diving
Cold, rough, calm, refreshing
Ocean
I dive through the waves
Salt water crashes
Against rocky sand
And carries my thoughts away
All my stress flows to the sea
Peace, love & sea turtles!
Let's spread random acts of ocean kindness ;)
