Ocean Healing
I feel a deep sense of peace whenever I am near the ocean. My grandmother used to tell me that the oceanside could heal your body — that the wind picked up the iodine in the breeze. I think it is our mind — we need space sometimes for nature. I touched the Pacific water with my hand, the water comes down from the Artic — but it didn’t feel cold to me. I was careful to catch a wave that wasn’t too overpowering, and I let it flow over my hands. And we let the kids collect seashells. We painted them. And I felt the happiest I’ve felt in some time, just taking in the ocean and its wonders.
I remembered my grandmother in Spain and taking her down to touch the water with her feet in her old age. Her body hurt, and I knew she believed in the healing properties of the water, so I wanted her to feel the gentle waves crashing on her skin. She thanked me. She almost fell into the water as a Rouge wave came by, and I steadied her. She was always very embarrassed of her weight — and she did not want to go to the water for fear people would mock her in her old age going to the water in a dress — she lived in a different time when people criticized others more openly. But I encouraged her to walk with me to the water’s edge as I saw her admiring the ocean from afar.
I did not realize it then, but that was the last time she touched the water. Normally, she would only sit and watch the waves from above on the boardwalk, but that day, I encouraged her to come down with me, and we walked along the beach. My grandmother is now in the ocean — her spirit is with me. And I only hope someone will also take me to feel the ocean water in my old age. Nature is our constant friend and a reminder of healing and renewal. In these moments, we find ourselves, deep within nature’s embrace. Next time you can go to the beach and touch the waters’ edge, get lost in its embrace and feel nature healing you.
