Now that it's summer, beaches are filling up. Everyone and their dog seems to be spending every weekend and holiday at the shore, soaking up the sun's rays and splashing in the shallows.

I'm one of these beachgoers, just having gotten back from a mini-vacation. Except, I managed to see through the veil of fun in the sun, and have been made aware of the downsides of spending a day at the beach.

Pro: You feel like you're going on vacation, even if you're going some place local.

Con: if you don't live close, you have to drive, which means you have to spend twenty minutes circling the minuscule parking lot until you find a spot.

Pro/Con: when you live close to a beach, you don't need to drive. You just have to pack all your junk into bags, totes, and wagons, balance beach chair straps on your shoulders, and corral any stray people, particularly children. But hey-- at least you didn't need to find a parking spot!

Pro: you find the perfect spot with no rocks and plenty of space around you...

Con: ...until some jerk with a stereo sets up camp next to you, blasting obnoxious music.

Pro: you feel confident that you won't get a sunburn after slathering yourself with sunblock.

Con: yet you still manage to get sunburned in the most painful places.

Pro: you packed sandwiches, water, and snacks in a cooler for everyone so that you wouldn't have to spend tons of money on boardwalk food that is terrible for you.

Con: Everyone demands that they still want pricey frozen treats like ice cream and popsicles, that will just get all over them and make them sticky.

Even with every last con, even one pro makes a trip to the sandy shore worth it. The beach is an amazing and relaxing place. You get to lie in the sun and day, play in the sand and cool off in the surf. You feel like you can let go of all the stresses that you have been holding onto; like a child's fist full of dandelions, your worries float away on the sea breezes.

You can't let the negative things keep you away from the things that you love. Ignore all of the other people in the crowds, push the pebbles away and snap the sand off your towels. All that other stuff fades away into the background, and soon all you can hear is the waves crashing on the sand and the salt air that blows across your cheeks. It's like the beach itself is talking to you. Smile, it whispers, you're here now.