Every now and then I feel a pull. When things feel unsettled and nerves are jangled, I need something to ground me. And I always find it at the ocean. I call it my vitamin sea.
We are about an hour away from the beach but I never regret the drive. Even with two little boys in the back. Last week the kids and I decided to take the day and head to Currumbin and the SWELL festival.
There were other things that we could have been doing. A list a mile long filled with housework and work. But then there always is. And it’s not what any of us needed.
Instead we headed to sand, sea, vast skies and vast artwork. SWELL hosts large scale feats of creativity and engineering. They adorn the beach and pathways. Structures big enough to explore. Abstract art where the meaning is not entirely clear but paves the way for conversation. Conversations with children being particularly enlightening. Art that makes a political or environmental statement. Which is an excellent launching point to get the kids to talk about these issues and their potential solutions. Art that makes you think and talk and feel. An outdoor classroom.
All set against the cerulean tones of ocean and sky.
The beach is muse to many. Balm to more souls than my own. Awesome and inspiring. I think the sheer size and space of it all puts other things into perspective and allows greater things to grow. There is something cleansing about the ocean. A sense that everything will be okay. My husband likes to joke “Everything is better at the beach”. And it is.
It’s the perfect backdrop for art. For restoration. And for creativity to bloom.
Did you go to SWELL?
Even skivved off because your soul needed it?
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We were at the beach last week and I feel so refreshed for the break. We should drive down to the beach more often even though we live an hour away! The sea air does amazing things for my mind.
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That sea air just clears out all the cobwebs doesn’t it?
We are also about an hour from the beach, and I agree, I think it nothing to drive that hour to have my dose of calm. The festival looks awesome! I’ll have to put it on the radar for next year.
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Definitely do – there is also little swell, with smaller artwork for sale in the galleries along the beach.
The ocean is my vitamin sea too and Currumbin is our favourite beach to visit. I haven’t been to Swell for years. It always sneaks up on me. I’m disappointed I missed yet another year. I’m glad you had a wonderful time and nourished your soul x
We adore Currumbin – such a great beach for little kids and then the fish and chips at the park around the corner (Throwers Drive) always top the day off.
Love that big deck chair!! It’s good to be a little naughty sometimes….
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They were so cool!
Hats off to you for ditching the housework and leaving! I think Cinderella definitely had her priorities backwards. If we always waited until the housework was done we’d rarely go anywhere fun!
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Exactly. Although I must say I don’t full the housework pull to hard to resist 😉
What a cool exhibition! I loved living near the ocean- just to look at it made me feel better!
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I wish I lived closer – I think my stress levels would be much less.
We live 20 minutes from the beach but still don’t visit it often enough! It us so soothing and relaxing, and healing of all life stresses!
I find it to be my greatest healer.
I didn’t go to Swell but I follow some people on Instagram who did and it looked spectacular – I love that giant deck chair! I don’t know if it’s because I’m a cancerian but I always find the sound of the sea soothes my soul – your sandy sojourn sounded like just what the weekend doctor ordered!
Exactly what the doctor ordered. You should definitely try to get it one day.
I live near the beach and find the ocean cathartic. I don’t spend enough time (or any) with my feet in the sand though… which is very grounding!
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Very grounding. It’s like breathing out.
Love your pics. Absolutely love them. I’ll generally choose mountains and trees over sand and sea, but either way, it’s about outdoors and not home, isn’t it? Sometimes you’ve just got to ignore the to-do list, because the to-live list beckons. #teamIBOT
The to live list! I LOVE that.
Oh we flew over that on the way to ProBlogger! It was the coolest thing to see this massive turtle on the beach. I saw it in person last year when we went to visit Mum and Dad for a holiday. The kids absolutely loved it.
It’s such a great festival and seeing it from the air would have been amazing.
The sea is my restoration and salvation. Our house is just a 20 minute drive from Dee Why, man I cannot wait for summer and spending many days down at the beach. It’s so refreshing to cast the TO DO list aside and escape.
I’ve just posted a things to do in school hols and put in your post with arts and crafts, so many good ideas there.
Cheers
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Thanks so much Seana – I really appreciate it. Sea is definitely a necessary escape.
I haven’t been to the Swell Festival but partake in a little skive frequently. As soon as both kids are in school/daycare, I drive over to the beach and smell the air (even go for a swim if it’s hot enough and I’ve got the time). So refreshing!
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Exactly what the soul needs from time to time.
I reluctantly go there (so much sun, so much sand), but never, ever regret having been. My kids adore the beach, so we are there regularly. It takes about 25 minutes to get to quite a few different beaches from our house, so no excuse. SWELL sounds absolutely brilliant. I think there is a similar kind of festival on the Central Coast, not too far from us. x
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SWELL is just gorgeous. We look forward to it every year. My boys aren’t too keen on the sand either (well, fine for sand castles, drastic when it clings to wet feet!)
I have to skive off more often than most, just for the sake of my own energy needs. And it’s why I can’t move from the beach.
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I’d so love to live closer. Hope all is okay in your world right now.
Oh I’d love to live closer to the beach. Our closest beach is 5 hours away! I do find though, that walking is a great escape for me, even if it’s just a daily thing. I do love getting out into nature, it really grounds you.
I think that connection is so important.