The enchantment of the sea

Tapping into its wellbeing and restorative qualities

I had a realisation that the sea, or to be precise being near the sea sends me into a state of calm and reflectiveness.

I have so many photos of the sea from various places I have visited, a collection of memories and moments that have played out over the years. I always tend to find that I have the urge to go down to the sea when I am in a particularly tricky moment or when I need to think about things or take a break from a frustrating situation. It can also bring about a joyful experience, especially if sharing the visit with friends or family.

It’s something about the sea air, waves and the way the light dances on the water that seems to clear my mind and re energise me, it’s an escape from modern life. It can be any season, warm or cold and the sea makes everything better. Maybe it’s looking out to the horizon or the fact that one minute it can be tranquil and the next a foamy storm of water which makes it appealing to me. It represents freedom to me, the rhythmic patterns of the waves creates a meditative state that I can feel deep inside me.

Port Isaac

Time spent by, in or near the sea seems to benefit many people, including me. I can recount the number of times where I have sat by the sea and then afterwards felt lighter and more relaxed. I read a really interesting article about this via The Guardian and something that stood out for me was this :

‘ there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health, wellbeing and happiness. First, there are the beneficial environmental factors typical of aquatic environments, such as less polluted air and more sunlight. Second, people who live by water tend to be more physically active – not just with water sports, but walking and cycling. Third – and this is where blue space seems to have an edge over other natural environments – water has a psychologically restorative effect. White says spending time in and around aquatic environments has consistently been shown to lead to significantly higher benefits, in inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood and stress, than green space does.’

I often find time spent by the sea reduces my negative emotions and regulates my moods. It draws out answers to questions and clears the mind. Experiencing a day out or a brisk walk by the sea also seems to help me with sleep which also has a restorative effect.

Whenever I see people by the sea they genuinely collectively seem happier. I love to observe people and find that if you go to a beach or a sea side resort you can witness the whole spectrum of humanity. From people pushing babies along the front in prams, to elderly people slowly making their way carefully along the sandy paths.

There are many sculptures and pieces of art by the coastline and sea, I feel like they go hand in hand with each other. They can completely transform a space and the ever changing tide and weather can alter the viewing of them each time you see them.

There is one that particularly stood out to me when I visited Australia at Manly Beach, Oceanides by Helen Leete. The sculpture was thought provoking and on the day I saw the piece it was stormy and rainy. The figures represent sea nymphs of Greek mythology, they seemed to be connecting the land, sea and sky together, stretching beyond human capabilities. It really spoke to me at the time and created a pause for thought.

Oceanides by Helen Leete at Manly

There are so many things connected to the sea and oceans, our wellbeing, our culture and history. There are so many works of art, poems, songs and films that depict or represent the sea. It’s fascinating how connected we are to the sea throughout human history. I hope we continue to protect it, respect it and continue to realise just how important it is.

Do you have any memories by the sea? Is there one environment or space that really connects to you? I would love to know.