Peace & Serenity on the Water

I think most people have a safe place… a thinking place… a place they go when they feel unsure or unhappy. For me growing up that was my hometown but more specifically my grandparents’ house. It was and always will be my comfort place. I wish I didn’t take as many moments for granted with them and wish that another place could embody how safe and protected, I felt in their space.

The ocean for me is a place that comes close. I used to drive 2 hours to this little sleepy town of Ocean Shores on the coast of Washington when I was a teenager late at night and alone. I’d hit the road anytime I felt depressed, scared, alone, or pretty much any overwhelming feeling. As you can imagine that drive was made a lot. It was my special time all to myself where I had the freedom to think and just be. One of my friends whose name I won’t mention but who I briefly lived with after moving back to Washington after leaving my ex-husband joined me on one of those late-night adventures and now, I don’t always make the trek alone.

Just the other day we did the drive after getting off work and per usual it brought a sense of calm and inner peace. We talked, we laughed, and we admitted new deep dark secrets and confessions in the dark on the drive home. It has become one of our favourite things to do together and one of the things that continues to connect us.

Imagine the bright sunny day, the water was freezing but amazing.

Looking out at the ocean on a bright sunny day, feeling the cold windy air off the water, and feeling the sun beating down on my skin makes me feel connected. To what exactly I’m not sure. It’s just a deep feeling I have within myself. I love being by the water, it has always been healing for me. Being in the water was one of my safe places and I don’t think that will ever change.

I have been feeling kind of lost lately and like I needed some direction, those 8 hours helped. I did some thinking by the ocean, and I realized that I might not have all the answers still, but at the end of the day know I’ll be okay.

Peace and Love,

Niamh