Published May 28, 2018
Take a look around you. Do you see any water?
Perhaps it’s in the hot tea you’re sipping, a picture on the cover of a nearby magazine, or in the form of raindrops running down your window. Think about it — water is everywhere.
We are who we are because of water. It’s where we go to clear our minds, to have fun, to re-centre.
And for some of us, it’s where we fell in love. Whether cliché or not, there’s a reason long walks on the beach are described as the perfect date. Water is romantic. It is calming, powerful, empowering, and so much more.
Water is happiness.
We have a fascinating, innate relationship with it that draws us in, and being around it makes us happier. It has the power to heal us. The sound of crashing ocean waves, the feeling of weightlessness while floating, and the silence and serenity that you experience when underwater all have extreme restorative influences on your mind and body.
It’s why we run a hot bath at the end of a stressful day, or drop extra cash on a room with an oceanside view. Water makes us feel good. Remember this the next time you feel the need to unwind!
Take a moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath, and really think about the moment you fell in love with water. Was it a cold sip of water on a hot sunny day? Was it when you reeled in your first big catch or your first time swimming underwater? Or was it simply jumping into puddles as a child?
Maybe you have a favourite waterbody that you have positive memories with — the creek in your backyard, the lake where you first learned to swim, or the river you first paddled on. We want to hear your water story. Share your story with us, and browse the archive of stories to read how water has shaped the lives of thousands of others.
Wallace J. Nichols describes our relationship with water perfectly in his book, Blue Mind:
“We are inspired by water — hearing it, smelling it in the air, playing in it, walking next to it, painting it, surfing, swimming or fishing in it, writing about it, photographing it, and creating lasting memories along its edge. Indeed, throughout history, you see our deep connection to water described in art, literature, and poetry.”
This Blue Mind movement that is storming the world celebrates how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at all that you do. It combines breakthrough science and personal stories to explain how our brains react to water and illuminates water’s powerful effects on our bodies, minds, and souls.
On a deeper level, water can even remind us of the power of forgiveness, perseverance, patience, and companionship. From pollution to severe weather changes, let’s face it, water puts up with a lot. More than 100,000 species rely on freshwater ecosystems for survival and, even under so much pressure, it thrives.
Contemplate this the next time you’re around water, and you’ll be surprised by how much nature can teach us about ourselves.
