On the latest episode of my podcast, Scuba Shack Radio, I reviewed the book Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols. The book is all about how we connect to water and its positive effects on our brain. So, I’ve been thinking about my blue mind and some of my blue mind moments. They can come at any time you are in or around water.
This past weekend I was at the ocean. Our dive shop conducted our first open water certification dives of the year. It is a long ride from my home in Connecticut to the dive site in Rhode Island. The drive starts early in the morning. In this later part of May, the sun is just coming up as I begin my trek. As I make my way to Fort Wetherill, I have a couple of blue mind moments. They set the stage for the rest of the day.
Find Blue Mind Moments on Your Journey
My first blue mind moment comes on the border of Connecticut and Rhode Island. I am on Route 165. The road heads downhill towards a curve, opening up on Beach Pond, a 372 acre natural lake straddling two states. The road cuts over the southern part of the pond and you get a water view on both sides of your vehicle. Some days, like Saturday morning, fog shrouds the pond. Sometimes the sun is bright and glistens off the water as it did on Sunday. The water is inviting. On this morning, I spotted a jet skier out for an early ride as I crossed Beach Pond. They obviously had their blue mind moment as they raced across the water. I look forward to this first blue mind experience on my journey every time I head to the dive site.
My second blue mind moment is about twenty-five minutes later. This time, my route takes me over Narragansett Bay as I cross the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge. Once again, I descend the highway as it curves to the bridge. As I round the bend, the water opens up to a spectacular view. It is calming and inspiring. Plum Beach Light comes into view, sitting like a jewel in the bay. The bridge rises to its pinnacle at 135 feet, providing an immense view of the bay before dropping onto the island. I am now surrounded by water.
A Blue Mind Place
My final destination is Fort Wetherill, a former coastal defense battery and training facility. The 100-foot high granite cliffs surround two coves. The normally calm and peaceful right cove is ideal for scuba diving and scuba diving training. This Sunday morning the weather is sunny with a bit of a breeze keeping the unusually high May temperature very comfortable. The cove is buzzing with divers and today several families are on the beach, getting an early start to their summer. Everyone seems to be trying to capture their blue mind.
Where and when do you capture your blue mind moments? It could be when you step onto the lanai of your hotel room on Maui to gaze at the infinity of the Pacific. It could be on a beach in Grand Cayman as you capture the sunset across the Caribbean. Perhaps it is the boat ride to your favorite dive site, followed by a giant stride into the ocean. Or maybe it is just crossing over the river on your commute to and from work.
One final note. I wrote this blog while sitting above the beach at Fort Wetherill on a spectacular Sunday morning, inspired by the water, engaging my blue mind.
Please tell me about your blue mind moments. You can email me or leave a reply below.
Love this!
Mermaids should know
My Blue Mind can be found on Weekapaug Rd in Westerly. I have also heard that the blue water draws one in and has an effects on the brain. Doesn’t matter the season mother ocean shares many many stories, one just needs to listen .
So calming, relaxing and peaceful.