Whether it’s my Indigenous roots or the fact that I’ve spent most of my life near the water, I’ll admit there is no other place I feel at such peace. Be it beachside or oceanside, the sun glistening off the water embodies, for me, the vision of lightworkers dancing upon a glass pond.
During my road travels, if there is a river nearby, and I become lost, my first instinct is to follow the river. It does not fail me and always leads me home; not to mention, it provides me with the serenity that accompanies a scenic waterfront cruise. There is no sweeter combination than an open, winding road alongside a rushing river, or the soft sound of ocean waves kissing the shore as you walk atop warm, sparkling sand. Of that I am certain!
What makes us human beings so attracted to nature and water and its peaceful calling? Perhaps it’s a stressful day, or the need to get away or find a place just to gather our thoughts? Whatever the case, the experience is personal and only the beholder knows its value.
Experts claim water also has many healing properties that benefit our bodies and psyches in many ways. From a metaphysical standpoint, USA Today, 2017, assures us: “Research has shown that being near, in, on or under water can provide a long list of benefits for our mind and body, including lowering stress and anxiety, increasing an overall sense of well-being and happiness, a lower heart and breathing rate, and safe, better workouts.”
In a recent article, Psychology Today further expands on the significance of being out in nature: “Nature is the purest pathway to inner peace, and it recharges one’s energy and renovates the personality. A study showed that when participants were exposed to nature scenes, their brain parts linked with empathy and love lit up.”
I think, frankly, the world could use a little more of that! Don’t you?
Nature’s objects bless us with specific healing properties. Trees can be “Harmony for the Mind” and “The time spent among trees is a respite for the exhausted minds, refreshing for new goals.”
As Psychology Today also enlightens us, being in nature generally “helps us deal with the over-activity of the mind and relaxes us with its soothing environment.” Our children, particularly those with ADHD, also enjoy dynamic benefits from spending time out in nature and near water: “Research on ADHD children shows that the attention span of children improves after spending time in nature.”
A welcomed blessing for the exhausted parent of a child with ADHD, as well as for the child who also reaps soothing, behavioural benefits.
The peaceful calling of water
There is an unspoken, silent, agreement among we Canadian beach walkers: No matter how cold it is, there is always peace and serenity in a walk along the water, be it by a river or a lake. Even on the coldest winter days, our waterfront parks and stretches of beach are explored. There are so many benefits and healing properties affiliated with water.
Today, I look forward to that walk on the beach, in spite of the chilled air, where uplifted spirits chat among themselves in passing and dogs dash for sticks, even into icy waters. With the sun in my face, I am inspired, knowing summer will soon be upon us and provide an endless opportunity to spend time on the waterfront and in an environment I like to call home.
A place where, for a moment, we can walk mask-free, in the open air, without worrying about COVID-related matters, and where we can set it all aside, if only briefly. For me, what comes along is a sense of peace and an attitude of gratitude about the planetary environment we’ve been endowed with, whatever “the source.”
Has it been a long, gruelling day? Are you near a body of water? If so, head for it. Walk its perimeter, enjoy the relaxing time and appreciate what you reap from its after-effects. You will come away invigorated.
“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” – Lao Tzu
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image 1 courtesy of author
