Endorphins Replenished at the Ocean

It is always a welcome relief to get out of the Midwest in the Spring and head for Sunny Florida. After a few weeks of subzero weather and a ton of snow, I anticipate returning to a place of serentity and peace with nature and God. And I am always greeted by a very special friend...

I always anticipate seeing Johnaton again...my special seagull friend. It doesn't seem to matter which ocean destination that I travel to, it isn't too many hours after my arrival that I find Johnathan is sitting on my patio railing. or deck. This past ocean visit was no exeption. He must have sensed that my inner soul was in need of some peace and restoration.

The first night of my visit was filled with reminescing about my mother in law who had just passed away. All the good times we had had together--the smiles--the tears--the hugs--even the disagreements. I had been so ingulfed in my daily work routine at the time of her death that I never really had time to start grieving for her until now. The tears came easily tonight as I walked along the beach and felt the cool water on my feet and the soft breeze in my face. The gently crashing of the waves in and out reminded me that life is nothing more than ebbs and tides. It also reminded me that the ocean is so self knowing and accepting of itself.

As I fall asleep by moonlight and the soft ocean sounds, I sense that Jonathan will be here when I wake up in the morning. Sure enough, as the sunrise awakens me, I look out my window and see Johnathan sitting my my condo railing. I offer him food which he always accepts and then he flies off into the sky to reassure me that he or his decendent will always be here for me.

. Almost instantly I feel cleansed and my inner peace returns.. at the end of my days in florida sunshine, I will have soaked up enough endorphins to get me through the rest of the Midwest winter when I return home.

It seems that whenever I am at the ocean....the ocean returns to me. I leave all of my stress with the ocean waves as they lap the beach and return to the sea and what comes back is water filled with peace and tranquility..