It’s important to disconnect from the world and “just be” sometimes. I have always had a strong connection to nature and in particular to the Beach. Spending time in nature can be therapeutic. In fact, brain imagining indicates that proximity to water floods the brain with feel-good hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol actually drop. So when we are around water and the ocean, it triggers a response in your brain that you’re in the right place. In ancient times, the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians understood the therapeutic properties of seawater. Hippocrates, Galen, Plato and Aristotle recommended the use of hot baths to not only clean wounds but also for preventative purposes. Ok, enough geeking out about the many benefits of the beach.

We spent the day at Meigs Point in Hammonasset Beach in Madison. It has a magical healing quality, especially when it’s quiet and the sound of the waves running over the shells is loudest. It was a day of introspection and peace surrounded by the ones I love most. A perfect combination for mindfulness and self reflection. Here are some photos from the day: