And, We Will Be Better For It

Fisherman on Wells Beach
(c) W. Hersee

This will be our second full season of enjoying life on the coast of Maine.  For years we frequented the southern coast of Maine, and enjoyed it for all the same reasons that millions of others have over the years.

The sea is very different each day.  The feeling of the mist on your face on a cool, overcast morning  is as enjoyable as the scent of sunblock soaked sand on a 90 degree day.  The gentle sound of the tide going out is so different than the heavy surf coming in when there is a storm at sea.  Both are wonderful, both enjoyed equally.

I could sit and watch the sea roll in, and then out, again forever.  This passive act is perfect for thinking, dwelling, and pondering about nothing more than nothing at all.  Sometimes that is the very best thing to do.  It justifies that staring

A young girl enjoys the sunrise on Wells Beach
(c) W. Hersee

off  into space look one has as they watch the sea touch the sand over, and over again.  Yes, sometimes it is not only a good thing, but a necessary thing to just let the mind go, and process little more than getting up, pouring coffee, and staring out to sea.

This summer we plan on doing a lot of mindless staring off to sea.  We are getting quite good at it, almost to the level of making it an Olympic sport.

Watching the surf chase the Sandpipers up and down the sand is therapeutic--it actually cleanses the head, washing all the debris that has accumulated  in those hard to purge recesses.  It is a healthy thing to do. There is a renewal that occurs, and one can feel it as it is happening.   It is not an act of laziness, in fact, if done correctly it surpasses being lazy.

Fishing on the Jetty at Wells Beach
(c) W. Hersee

We all need a place to go to renew ourselves, to flush out all the detritus that has burrowed deep inside, and taints everything we do.   You have a place, but you may not know it as your renewal place.  If you feel different, for the better, after being there, then you have your place.  Gardening, mowing the lawn, hiking a trail, painting your child's room, or staying at a cabin in the mountains all have a way of emptying the dust bin on our shoulders.  These activities are not without another purpose. They were not only designed to accomplish their intended purpose, but also make you feel good along the way.

Nature is cunning, and manipulative that way.  We plan on being victims of manipulation on the beach a lot this summer, and we will be better people for it.