“The Waves turned and turned
Neither toward nor away from him,
Swash and backwash”
– Helen Dunmore Inside The Wave
For most of us, travel anywhere has been minimal this year. However, I was fortunate to visit the sea on a few occasions. This was mostly during those couple of summer months when it felt like things might be ok again….
This post began as scribbles in a note book as most of them do. The scribbles came as I sat in the sunshine on a campsite just a short walk from one of my favourite beaches. I was feeling calm and energised by a few days away and some time by the sea. Since then I have been mulling over what it is about being by the sea which is so good for the soul
Restoring Equilibrium
Almost the moment I arrive at the sea, I sense my shoulders drop, everything relaxes and I can almost feel a physical change in my breathing pattern. Wild rough seas makes one feel alive. There is a reminder of the power of nature and fragility of life. Whereas calm gentle waters lead to reflection and thoughtfulness. There is a predictable rhythm to the waves, a continuity and reliability. Sitting watching the waves roll in and out can be mesmerising. Mindfully focusing on the sounds of the sea, the smell, the regularity of the waves and the patterns on the surface of the water is a helpful way of slowing down.
I find myself focusing on the creation and creator of the sea, and its vastness across the planet. Beliefs on who this creator might be or how it was created may differ. But, there can be little difference in opinions on the majesty and the wonder of this living breathing entity. I think about what we are doing to this beautiful gift with our penchant for plastic and our shoddy recycling.
Restored Energy
In the UK, the air by the sea is invariably fresh and even brisk. Commonly, the wind whips across the tops of foamy waves charging onto the shore. Sometimes it swirls in raging winds, at others it is sweet tempered and mild. This combination of air and sea is energising and mostly invigorating. I love to walk and run by the sea. Wild runs along the coastal path towards Lands End or from St Ives in Cornwall have been some of my most memorable. Just this summer, we were battered by winds and rain as we tottered along the coastal path in Pembrokeshire. Below us the sea coughed and spluttered deeply as seals emerged from the waves, playful and skittish. Their sleek bodies dipping in and out of the frothy waves. They too clearly energised by the elements.
Being by the sea is good at any time of year. On a hot summers day when the sand is baking beneath tanned feet and the skin is sticky and dry, a cool dip in the sea gives instant refreshment. Braving the chill of english waters gives a particular exhilaration, whereas the warmth of Mediterranean or Caribbean seas is a cooling balm.
The taste of salt on the lips and tangled in hair, the tingling beneath the skin and the flushed cheeks; all evidence of the energetic nature of the sea. All of it serving to revive a tired, sluggish body.
Inspiring Creativity
Some months ago, BC (before coronavirus), I spent a few lovely days by the sea in Whitstable. This was a very happy creative time, and certainly one of the most creatively productive times I have had this year. Whether it is the sea air or the particular light that comes from being by the sea or simply being surrounded by so much natural beauty, I always find myself longing to write when I am there. I guess this is not a new thing. Many writers have drawn inspiration from being beside the sea. The sea by its very nature contains an endless supply of stories in its hidden depths.
I don’t know how it is for you, but I always feel calmer, more connected with nature and physically and emotionally restored after time spent by the sea. For as long as I can, this is where I will continue to seek solace.
The Ocean has its silent caves,
Deep, quiet, and alone;
Though there be fury on the waves,
Beneath them there is none
- Nathanial Hawthorne – The Ocean
