Early-morning sun peeks above the horizon as humidity moistens my skin. The balminess hints at another hot day. I lie in bed and hear its call as it whispers my name, screaming for me to come. Its seductive lure is a lifelong enticement. It’s ingrained in every fiber of my being: the ocean.
I grew up near the ocean. Now, I am landlocked in the heart of the country. No matter. The sea still sings to me and makes me want. The beach is less a desire for me than a need. Those who grew up on a coast can attest to the same feelings. We can move away, but we must come near it time and again to infuse its life-force into our being. For me, it’s an almost yearly must.
I jump out of bed, throw open the sliding door, and take a deep breath of life. The cerulean and aqua ocean isn’t just a thing to me; it’s a living, breathing impetus. I am in awe of it and excited to be near it, always maintaining deep respect for its power to take life as well as give it.
Quickly, I dress and head across the street. The moment my bare feet hit the sand, I am grounded. As soon as my body is wrapped in its embrace, I am home. No other feeling compares to it for me. It’s comforting and calming, a sense of well-being no other vacation can offer me.
Here I am at rest. The world and its harsh realities do not exist here. Only I and the soothing sound that surrounds me remain. All is well, for this brief moment.
I go to Destin whenever I can. The beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast is magical. I don’t plan anything. I don’t have any must-do or must-see lists. In Destin, I can just be. So few vacations give us that. Rest.
What I loved doing on summer vacation as a child now rejuvenates me in the grounding peace I find there. I have a sure-fire way to accomplish that every time. It’s a routine I swear by, and every time I go there, I do it. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I clear my head and refresh for another year of the grind. I let the ocean breathe new life into this tired body.
(Published on Medium by No Time, June 2026)
Catch me on Patreon, Substack, Beehiiv, Medium, Vocal, Wattpad, or WordPress. Dealer's choice! Check me out on Social Media too via Linktree or my website, Ink and Echo. And if you'd like to support my coffee habit, you can do that on Ko-fi too.