Thank you for giving me a place to escape to. For giving me a break from it all. Going to the beach has become an outlet for myself and for others as well. There is nothing better than feeling the sand in between your toes and feeling the rush of water over your feet. Feeling the heat of the sun on the back of your neck as you feel the salt of the water open up your pores. Nothing is more therapeutic than a soak in salt water. It is a rush that is unforgettable. It is a rush that becomes an addiction. You always want to come back for more.

Thank you for allowing me a place to walk endlessly and to get lost within the sand. It is not possible to have a crowded mind when walking along the shoreline. Your mind becomes free of all worry as you find a seashell that catches your attention. You become curious as you see a small crab pop its head out of a hole just to move along to another hole before the water catches up to it. While walking along the shore, it reminds me that there is no goal that I am trying to reach. There is no rush. There is no race that I am trying to finish. There is no place for me to be. The only thing that matters is me and the beach itself.

Thank you for allowing me the chance to detach from all technology and escape from outside sources. It feels incredible to be away from a computer and a phone. To be away from all the stress that comes with the technology that is always attached to our hips. While at the beach, focus turns to reading a novel, to playing with your dog, or simply just catching up on some sleep with a nap in the sun. The ocean becomes a natural radio for yourself when listening to the waves crash as you fall asleep.

Thank you for allowing me to feel the sun at its strongest. To soak up the vitamin D that I so desperately needed from being stuck inside from work all day. For allowing the sun to kiss my skin and gain the color back that I had lost during the winter season. Feeling the sun is so crucial for good health and wellness.

Thank you for allowing me to mix up my workout routine. To be able to play games with family members and friends. To be able to boogie board in the waves and feel exhausted after it is all said and done. To run on different terrain and feel every bounce that my steps take. It makes getting some exercise enjoyable.

Thank you for allowing me the chance to bond with my family and friends. Going to the beach is always a wonderful occasion for family to get together for. We are all able to do our own thing during the day, but at the end of the night, we are all sunburned and ready to spend our evenings together. Whether it be watching the stars at night, catching up with a movie, or simply enjoying each others company. The beach brings us all together.

Thank you for becoming my home away from home because at the beach, I truly feel I belong and I truly feel happy.