It is so strange how different beaches can be the same yet offer such different experiences. Even more amazing is how the same beach can make people experience different emotions each time they're there. Whether it is a beach on the ocean, a sea, a lake, a river, or a creek, a day at the beach can bring much needed inner peace.
There have been so many days my family and I have spent at the beach, both on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. We have also spent much time at lakes, rivers, and creeks, while living in states in between the two coastlines. It seems everyone in my family has discovered just how relaxing being around water can be, whether with family, friends, or all alone.
The beach offers so many opportunities for a person to express emotions in a constructive way. The best options depend on what type of beach, the time of day and time of the year, and a person's personal preferences. There is no one way that is perfect for everyone. For that matter, no one way is perfect for even just one person all the time. A variety of activities should be performed instead of a set ritual, in order to attain the ultimate experiences and pleasure.
Some people may prefer surfing or parasailing. Others may prefer boating or fishing. Still others may get more out of swimming or sunbathing. Then there is always the pleasure of collecting seashells and other items the sea has washed ashore. Camping on an isolated beach is a very unforgetable experience, as well.
Of course, there's also walking or jogging along the beach, as well. Not to mention all the other sports a person can participate in, like volley ball and football. It can also be quite entertaining to pretend to be a sand piper, running to and from the waves. Can anyone really resist the temptation to build a sand castle and then destroy it (or watch as the water washes over it)?
Nor are the aforementioned activities the only ones suited to releasing inner emotions. The best ways to release the most intense feelings is through writing, music, and any other art form. My sister wrote some of her best poetry and stories while sitting on the beach, listening to the waves rushing into the shore. Many musicians, artists, and writers have found inner peace by spending a day all alone at the beach, during the off season for tourism. The beauty of the scenery and sounds of life can be quite inspiring.
Additionally, a person can find the answers he or she is seeking, simply by sitting on the beach, listening to the sounds of life all around. The beach is a great place for prayer and meditation, because even if there are hundreds of people around, the rhythm of the waves will soon lull the person into a gentle calmness, and the feeling of being totally alone with God (or whatever higher being he or she worships). Meditating becomes much easier to do, as a person imagines himself or herself being carried away on the ocean breeze or floating on the waves.
The ocean always seems to know how a person is feeling, and it expresses those emotions. It is difficult to go to the beach angry, and return from the beach still angry. Whether the anger is released through physical or mental activity, or a combination of both, it does get released.
However, beaches at lakes, rivers, and creeks can also be just as healing. Although the waves are usually gentler than those of the ocean, they still have a calming effect on people. Even though these beaches may not have as many physical outlets available, they do offer many opportunities for physically and mentally releasing emotions. One of the key elements to attaining inner peace is the releasing of intense or conflicting emotions without harming yourself or another living being. Thus, a day at the beach can indeed help a person find inner peace.